noun
cell
sehl
noun
1
The smallest basic unit of a living organism, capable of growing and reproducing itself.
"The human body contains trillions of cells."
"Under the microscope, students could see individual plant cells."
2
A small locked room in a prison or police station.
"He spent the night in a holding cell."
"The prisoners were led back to their cells."
3
A device that stores electrical energy, used alone or grouped into a battery.
"The remote runs on a single AA cell."
4
A small group forming part of a larger, often secretive, organization.
"Police broke up a terrorist cell operating in the city."
How to Use Cell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: the tiny building block of living things, a small prison room, a battery unit, or a small secretive group within a bigger organization.
Common pairings
prison cell
blood cell
battery cell
terror cell
Word Forms
celled past tense, cells plural, cells plural, cells singular
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The human body contains trillions of _____.
Etymology
From Latin cella, "small room or storage chamber" — the same root behind "cellar."