Word
cellulose
Phoneticscel·lu·lose
US/ˈsɛɫjəˌɫoʊs/
UK/sˈɛljuːlˌəʊz/
Definition
n. a tough material that makes up the walls of plant cells. It gives plants their shape and strength, and it is the main part of paper and cotton.
n. an insoluble polysaccharide consisting of chains of glucose units that forms the primary structural component of plant cell walls. It is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth and serves as the raw material for paper and textile production.
Examples
“Plants use cellulose to build strong stems.”
“Because humans cannot digest cellulose, it passes through the digestive system as dietary fiber.”
“The industrial extraction of cellulose from wood pulp remains a cornerstone of the global paper industry, though researchers are increasingly exploring its potential in biodegradable plastics.”
Examples
simple
“Plants use cellulose to build strong stems.”
contextual
“Because humans cannot digest cellulose, it passes through the digestive system as dietary fiber.”
complex
“The industrial extraction of cellulose from wood pulp remains a cornerstone of the global paper industry, though researchers are increasingly exploring its potential in biodegradable plastics.”
Usage
Usually uncountable when referring to the substance; can be countable when discussing different chemical types or derivatives.
Real-World Examples
“They help generate energy for coral and deep-sea tube worms and break down stubborn molecules like cellulose and lignin within animals as varied as cows and termites.” “Despite their high organic matter content, the energy potential of these waste materials is "locked" within a kind of "plant-made armor" composed primarily of substances like cellulose and lignin.” Etymology
Borrowed from French cellulose.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/cellulose