cell wall
cell wall — noun
1. a stiff outer layer around a plant cell, made mostly of a tough material called
a stiff outer layer around a plant cell, made mostly of a tough material called cellulose, that gives the cell its shape and protects it from damage
Under a microscope, the onion cells showed a clear, thick cell wall around each one.
describes appearance: clear, thick
Gabriel cut an apple slice and saw its cells held together by their cell walls.
A plant cell wall works like a strong box that keeps the cell from bursting.
When Maeve watered the wilted flowers, the cell walls helped the stems stand upright again.
Unlike animal cells, plant cells have a strong cell wall outside their membrane.
用法筆記
Only plant cells (not animal cells) have a cell wall. This is a key difference students learn in basic biology.
常見錯誤
2. a firm, non-living layer outside the cell membranes of various one-celled and ma
a firm, non-living layer outside the cell membranes of various one-celled and many-celled organisms such as plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria — it gives the cell structural support and stops it from bursting when water enters
Bacteria have a tough cell wall that protects them from drying out in harsh conditions.
broadens to bacteria
Dr. Sumin studied how the cell wall of yeast changes shape during bread making.
Some antibiotics fight infections by breaking down the cell wall of harmful bacteria.
The cell wall of a mushroom contains chitin, a substance that makes it firm.
Without its cell wall, a plant cell would swell up and burst under water pressure.
用法筆記
This sense covers all organisms with cell walls (plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae). The cell wall is non-living and fully permeable, unlike the cell membrane, which is living and selectively permeable.