Added 9 October 2026
cell
/sɛl/ noun
In Latin: cellula Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about cell at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Any small compartment.
the cells of a honeycomb
- (biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; they may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals.
- A device that delivers an electric current as the result of a chemical reaction.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)