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.

Common collocations

• blood cell Adjective + noun
• dead cell Adjective + noun
• answer your cell Verb + noun
• charge your cell Verb + noun
• solar cell Adjective + noun
• stem cell Adjective + noun
• damage cells Verb + noun

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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