cell
- 01 A2 Elementary
the smallest unit of a living thing that can live on its own.
the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known organisms.
Simple“The scientist looked at the plant cells through a powerful microscope.”
In context“Stem cells are unique because they have the potential to develop into many different types of specialized cells in the body.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
a small room in a prison or police station where a prisoner is kept.
a small room used to confine a person in a prison, jail, or police station.
Simple“The guard walked past each cell to check on the inmates.”
In context“The prisoner spent twenty-three hours a day in a cramped cell, with only a small window providing a glimpse of the sky.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
a single box in a table or spreadsheet where you type information.
the intersection of a row and a column in a spreadsheet or table.
Simple“Type the total amount into cell B10 at the bottom of the page.”
In context“The formula in the final cell automatically calculates the tax based on the data entered in the preceding rows.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
a device that stores electricity, or one part of a larger battery.
an individual unit for storing electrical energy, often combined with others to form a battery.
Simple“The car uses a fuel cell to create power from hydrogen.”
In context“The experimental vehicle is powered by a lithium-ion cell that offers significantly higher energy density than traditional lead-acid versions.”
Synonymsbatterypower unit - 05 C1 Advanced
a small group of people that is part of a larger, often secret, organization.
a small, discrete unit of a larger political or activist organization, often designed to operate independently for security.
Simple“The activists worked in a small cell so that they didn't know the other members.”
In context“Intelligence reports suggested that the sleeper cell had been inactive for several years before receiving the order to mobilize.”
- 06 A2 Elementary
a short way of saying 'cell phone' or mobile phone.
a hand-held mobile radiotelephone; a common clipping of 'cellular phone'.
Simple“I left my cell at home, so I couldn't call you back.”
In context“He reached into his pocket for his cell, only to realize the battery had died during the long commute.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
a very small, simple room where a monk or nun lives.
a small, sparsely furnished room in a religious house, such as a monastery or convent.
Simple“The monk spent his morning praying in his quiet cell.”
In context“The architecture of the monastery was designed so that each cell faced the central courtyard, encouraging both solitude and community.”
Usage cells respond · cell in the body · cell types
“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.”
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.