cell

The definition of a cell is a small area in a prison where criminals are kept behind bars.

(noun)

An example of a cell is where a murderer is locked up.

A cell is defined as the smallest unit of an organism with a nucleus.

(noun)

An example of a cell is a unit in the tissue of an animal muscle.

See cell in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a small convent or monastery attached to a larger one
a hermit's hut
a small room or cubicle, as in a convent or prison
a very small hollow, cavity, or enclosed space; specif.,
1. any of the compartments in a honeycomb
2. a small, hollow space in tissue, esp. in bone
3. the space of an insect's wings enclosed by the veins
4. any compartment of an ovary; also, a pollen sac or spore sac
any of the smallest organizational units of a group or movement, as of a Communist party
Biol. a very small, complex unit of protoplasm, usually with a nucleus, cytoplasm, and an enclosing membrane: all plants and animals are made up of one or more cells that usually combine to form various tissues
Elec.
1. an open or sealed container holding electrodes and an electrolyte, used to generate electricity by chemical reactions or to decompose compounds by electrolysis
2. any compartment of a storage battery
3. a unit within any device, as a solar battery, that produces voltage by converting radiant energy into electrical energy

Origin: ME < OE < OFr celle < L cella, small room, hut (LL(Ec), monastic cell) < IE base *kel-, to conceal > hall, hell, hull, Goth halja

Related Forms:

See cell in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A narrow confining room, as in a prison or convent.
A small enclosed cavity or space, such as a compartment in a honeycomb or within a plant ovary or an area bordered by veins in an insect's wing.
Biology The smallest structural unit of an organism that is capable of independent functioning, consisting of one or more nuclei, cytoplasm, and various organelles, all surrounded by a semipermeable cell membrane.
Architecture See web.
The smallest organizational unit of a centralized group or movement, especially of a political party of Leninist structure.
Electricity
a. A single unit for electrolysis or conversion of chemical into electric energy, usually consisting of a container with electrodes and an electrolyte; a battery. Also called electrochemical cell.
b. A single unit that converts radiant energy into electric energy: a solar cell.
A fuel cell.
Computer Science A basic unit of storage in a computer memory that can hold one unit of information, such as a character or word.
A geographic area or zone surrounding a transmitter in a cellular telephone system.
A storm cell.
A small humble abode, such as a hermit's cave or hut.
A small religious house dependent on a larger one, such as a priory within an abbey.
A box or other unit on a spreadsheet or similar array at the intersection of a column and a row.