cell

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The smallest basic unit that makes up all living things.

   The human body is made up of billions of cells.

2. 2
   noun

   A small room where a prisoner is kept.

   The prisoner spent the night alone in his cell.

3. 3
   noun

   A small space or compartment, such as one in a honeycomb.

   Each cell of the honeycomb was full of honey.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Cell, recorded in Old English, goes back to Latin cella, “storeroom” or “chamber.” In late Latin, cella also denoted a monk’s or hermit’s cell. The same Latin word is the source of cellar.

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.

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary