noun

cell

/sel/ · say it: sel

the basic structural unit of living things

In Science & Nature

In more detail

1. (noun) the smallest unit of living matter that can exist independently

2. (noun) a small room in a prison where a prisoner is locked up

3. (noun) a small room or space, especially one used for a specific purpose

4. (noun) a device that produces electrical power from chemical reactions

Examples

1. All living things are made up of cells.
2. The prisoner was locked in his cell overnight.
3. The monk lived in a small cell in the monastery.

How to use cell

Cell is a highly versatile word with distinct meanings in biology (the fundamental unit of life), penology (a confined space in prison), and electronics (a power source). In scientific contexts, it refers to microscopic structures with specific membranes and functions. In prison contexts, it denotes individual confinement spaces. The word also appears in technology (cell phone) and in older chemistry contexts (battery cell). Context determines the specific meaning.

Common phrases

prison cell
jail cell
body cell
brain cell
red blood cell
battery cell

Synonyms

unit · chamber · compartment · cubicle · compartmentalized section

Word family

cellular · cellularity · celled

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse "cell" (a small unit or space) with "sell" (to exchange for money), which are homophones but entirely different words with different meanings.

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