cell
/sel/ (bre, ipa) · /sel/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsel/ (ame, mw)
cell — noun
1. the tiniest living unit in any plant or animal, invisible except through a micro
the tiniest living unit in any plant or animal, invisible except through a microscope; all living things are built from these units.
The human body contains trillions of cells that work together.
contains + trillions of cells
A blood sample can show whether the white cells are fighting infection.
blood cell / white cell
Under the microscope, Priya saw the round shape of a skin cell.
The cancer cells were growing faster than the healthy ones.
Each nerve cell sends signals to the brain through tiny pathways.
- microorganism
different — a living thing made of one cell, not a single unit of a larger organism
- unit
very general; not specific to biology
- organelle
a smaller part inside a cell, not the cell itself
文法句型
cell + verb (divide, grow, die)
blood / skin / muscle / cancer + cell
cell + noun (wall, membrane, division)
用法筆記
This is the core biological sense. It appears frequently in compound nouns: blood cell, skin cell, nerve cell, stem cell, and cancer cell. You can also say a cell divides, grows, or dies.
常見錯誤
2. a basic room, often with nothing more than a bed, used for locking up convicts a
a basic room, often with nothing more than a bed, used for locking up convicts at jailhouses or for a brother or sister sleeping alone at a religious house.
The guard locked the door of the prison cell at nine o'clock.
prison cell
Ravi shared a cell with two other men for six months.
shared a cell with
The monk returned to his small cell after the evening prayer.
For three nights, the police kept him in a holding cell at the station.
文法句型
in a/the cell
prison / jail / monk's / nun's + cell
cell + noun (door, window, mate)
用法筆記
This sense has two main branches: prison cells (for criminals) and monastery cells (for monks or nuns). The prison branch is much more common in everyday English. In compounds: prison cell, jail cell, holding cell, padded cell.
常見錯誤
3. a device that creates electricity by using a chemical reaction or by collecting
a device that creates electricity by using a chemical reaction or by collecting light energy, such as a dry cell or a solar cell.
The solar cell on the roof powers the garden lights at night.
solar cell
A fuel cell converts hydrogen into electricity without burning fuel.
fuel cell
The engineer tested a new dry cell for use in portable radios.
Camera batteries often contain several small cells connected together.
- battery
often used interchangeably in everyday speech, though technically a battery contains multiple cells
- accumulator
technical term for a rechargeable battery
文法句型
cell + noun (battery, charger)
solar / fuel / dry + cell
cell produces/generates + energy
用法筆記
This sense describes a single unit that produces electricity. It is broader than battery, since a battery contains one or more cells. Common compounds: solar cell, fuel cell, dry cell. Not to be confused with a prison cell or a phone (sense 4).
常見錯誤
4. a short way of saying cell phone; a telephone that has no wires and can be carri
a short way of saying cell phone; a telephone that has no wires and can be carried anywhere because it works by radio, used for calls, messages, and internet.
Diego reached for his cell as soon as the train arrived.
possessive + cell
Can I borrow your cell for a quick call to the doctor?
The screen on my cell cracked when it fell off the table.
Aiko left her cell on the bus and had to go back for it.
- cell phone
the full form, suitable for any register
- mobile phone
British English equivalent
- smartphone
a cell phone with advanced computing features
- landline
a phone connected to a fixed wire in a building
文法句型
on my/his/her + cell
call + someone on + possessive + cell
cell phone
用法筆記
The shortened form cell is mainly used in North American English. In British English, mobile or phone is more common. Use this sense only in informal situations — for formal writing, use cell phone or mobile phone.
常見錯誤
5. one of the small spaces, sections, or compartments that together make up a large
one of the small spaces, sections, or compartments that together make up a larger structure, such as a honeycomb, a beehive, or a storage box.
Each cell of the honeycomb holds a single drop of honey.
cells of a honeycomb
The bees filled every cell in the hive before harvesting began.
cell in the hive
The storage box was divided into six square cells for tools.
Yusuf examined the cells of the cardboard egg tray under the light.
- compartment
a more general word for a separate section within a container
- section
focuses on the division rather than the enclosed space
- cavity
suggests an empty space inside a solid material
文法句型
cell of + noun
the cells of a + structure
用法筆記
This is a general sense describing any small compartment within a larger structure. It is less specific than the biological or prison senses. Commonly used for honeycomb cells and sometimes for grid-based storage systems.
常見錯誤
6. a tiny team of operatives inside a bigger political body, typically operating in
a tiny team of operatives inside a bigger political body, typically operating in secrecy and often planning unlawful or violent acts.
The police discovered a terrorist cell operating in the city centre.
terrorist cell
Members of the revolutionary cell met in a basement to plan their next move.
revolutionary cell
Each cell in the network had only three members to avoid detection.
Intelligence agents worked for months to break up the secret cell.
- faction
a group within a larger one, often with differing opinions; less secret than a cell
- splinter group
a group that has broken away from a larger organization
- ring
a group of people working together, especially illegally
- unit
neutral and general; not specifically secret or political
文法句型
terrorist / revolutionary / secret + cell
cell of + organization
cell operates / meets / plans
用法筆記
This sense carries a strong connotation of secrecy, conspiracy, and often violence. It appears most often in news reporting about terrorism, espionage, and underground political movements. The members of a cell typically do not know the members of other cells, for security reasons.
常見錯誤
7. a single box in a spreadsheet application (like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets
a single box in a spreadsheet application (like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets) where you put a number, a word, or a calculation.
Theo entered the sales total into cell B12 of the spreadsheet.
cell + column/row reference
When you select a cell, its address appears in the top-left corner.
select a cell
Hana copied the formula from cell C6 and pasted it into the next row.
The budget sheet had a red border around every empty cell.
文法句型
cell + noun (reference, address, value)
select / enter data into / click on + a cell
cell A1, cell B2, etc.
用法筆記
Each cell on a spreadsheet is identified by a unique address made of its column letter and row number, for example A1, F12, or Z100. This sense is used in computing and office contexts. In everyday English, the word box or square is more common for general grid spaces.