Definitions
01biology
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Science
n. the smallest unit of a living thing that can live on its own.
n. the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known organisms.
“The scientist looked at the plant cells through a powerful microscope.”
“Stem cells are unique because they have the potential to develop into many different types of specialized cells in the body.”
02prison room
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. a small room in a prison or police station where a prisoner is kept.
n. a small room used to confine a person in a prison, jail, or police station.
“The guard walked past each cell to check on the inmates.”
“The prisoner spent twenty-three hours a day in a cramped cell, with only a small window providing a glimpse of the sky.”
03spreadsheet box
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing
n. a single box in a table or spreadsheet where you type information.
n. the intersection of a row and a column in a spreadsheet or table.
“Type the total amount into cell B10 at the bottom of the page.”
“The formula in the final cell automatically calculates the tax based on the data entered in the preceding rows.”
04battery
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science
n. a device that stores electricity, or one part of a larger battery.
n. an individual unit for storing electrical energy, often combined with others to form a battery.
“The car uses a fuel cell to create power from hydrogen.”
“The experimental vehicle is powered by a lithium-ion cell that offers significantly higher energy density than traditional lead-acid versions.”
Synonyms
05small group
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a small group of people that is part of a larger, often secret, organization.
n. a small, discrete unit of a larger political or activist organization, often designed to operate independently for security.
Español:célula
“The activists worked in a small cell so that they didn't know the other members.”
“Intelligence reports suggested that the sleeper cell had been inactive for several years before receiving the order to mobilize.”
06mobile phone
A2 · Elementary Countable noun American English · Informal
n. a short way of saying 'cell phone' or mobile phone.
n. a hand-held mobile radiotelephone; a common clipping of 'cellular phone'.
“I left my cell at home, so I couldn't call you back.”
“He reached into his pocket for his cell, only to realize the battery had died during the long commute.”
07monastery room
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Religion
n. a very small, simple room where a monk or nun lives.
n. a small, sparsely furnished room in a religious house, such as a monastery or convent.
“The monk spent his morning praying in his quiet cell.”
“The architecture of the monastery was designed so that each cell faced the central courtyard, encouraging both solitude and community.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cell” in context.
Verb
01. regenerate cells
“The body works hard to regenerate skin cells after you get a sunburn.”
verb + noun
02. share a cell
“The two inmates had to share a cell in the overcrowded wing of the prison.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. cancerous cell
“The doctors performed a biopsy to determine if the growth contained any cancerous cells.”
adj + noun
04. solitary cell
“The prisoner was kept in a solitary cell for twenty-three hours a day.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. cell division
“In biology class, we studied how cell division allows organisms to grow and repair themselves.”
noun + noun
06. cell membrane
“The cell membrane acts as a barrier, controlling what enters and leaves the cell.”
noun + noun
07. cell phone
“Please remember to turn off your cell phone before the movie starts.”
noun + noun
08. cell wall
“Unlike animal cells, plant cells have a rigid cell wall that provides structural support.”
noun + noun
Preposition
09. in a cell
“The suspect was held in a cell overnight until his lawyer arrived the next morning.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Researchers started with ordinary skin cells, called fibroblasts, taken from a beagle, then used CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the Can f 1 gene directly.” “Perhaps with this book, you can learn about different cell types and what they look like under normal conditions or conditions of disease.” Etymology
From Middle English celle, selle, from Old English cell (attested in inflected forms), from Latin cella (“chamber, small room, compartment”), later reinforced by Old French cel, sele, Old French cele. Ultimately from Proto-Italic kelnā, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelneh₂, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover”). Doublet of cella and hall.
Ellipsis of cell phone, itself a clipping of cellular phone, from cellular + phone.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/cell
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0