cell
gb/sˈɛl/ us/sˈɛl/
A2
English
~ 800
cella, sejt, elem, mobiltelefon, mobil
NOUN
A2
1
cella
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is in a cell
The guard escorted the inmate back to his cell.
Az őr visszakísérte a rabot a cellájába.
She spent the night in a police cell after the protest.
A tüntetés után egy rendőrségi cellában töltötte az éjszakát.
Each prisoner has a small bed and toilet in the cell.
The cell door slammed shut behind him.
Learner examples
He is in a small cell.
Egy kis cellában van.
The man sleeps in his cell.
A férfi a cellájában alszik.
The police put her in a cell.
The cell has one bed.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cell' with 'room' in general, but 'cell' specifically means a small, enclosed space for confinement.
Meaning
small prison room
Collocations
prison cell
|jail cell
|lock the cell
|share a cell
|cell door
Synonyms
prison room (A more descriptive but less commonly used term referring to the same space.)
Antonyms
freedom (Represents the opposite condition of being confined in a cell.)
Themes
law
|crime
|buildings
|housing
Definition
A small locked room in a prison where one person stays.
A small, secure room in a prison or jail where a prisoner is kept.
NOUN
B1
2
sejt
B1
The human body is made up of trillions of cells.
Az emberi test billiónyi sejtből áll.
Plant cells have a rigid wall outside the membrane.
A növényi sejteknek a sejthártyán kívül merev sejtfaluk van.
Blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body.
Scientists observed the cell under a powerful microscope.
Learner examples
Your body has many cells.
A testedben sok sejt van.
A plant has green cells.
A növénynek zöld sejtjei vannak.
We can see cells with a microscope.
Cells make up animals and plants.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'cell' with 'battery cell' or 'cellphone'. Context usually clarifies meaning.
Meaning
smallest living unit
Collocations
nerve cell
|plant cell
|blood cell
|cell membrane
|cell division
Synonyms
biological unit (A more formal term used in scientific contexts to refer to the same entity.)
Antonyms
organism (An entire living being, which is made up of many cells.)
Themes
science
|biology
|body
Definition
The smallest part of a living thing, usually too small to see without a microscope.
The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and enclosed by a membrane.
NOUN
B2
3
sejt
C1
The police uncovered a terrorist cell in the city.
A rendőrség egy terrorista sejtet derített fel a városban.
Each cell operated independently to avoid detection.
Mindegyik sejt önállóan működött, hogy elkerülje a lebukást.
An underground cell planned the demonstration.
Authorities arrested members of a spy cell.
Learner examples
The police found a terrorist cell.
A rendőrség felfedezett egy terrorista sejtet.
Each cell works alone.
Mindegyik sejt külön működik.
The group has many small cells.
They stopped the secret cell.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'cell' here refers to a physical room; it means an organizational unit.
Meaning
small secret group unit
Collocations
terrorist cell
|spy cell
|militant cell
|underground cell
Synonyms
faction (A more general term for a subgroup, not necessarily secretive.)
Antonyms
central command (The main leadership or headquarters, as opposed to a small operating unit.)
Themes
politics
|crime
|law
Definition
A small secret group that is part of a bigger group, often for political or criminal work.
A small group forming part of a larger political, religious, or criminal organization, often operating secretly and independently.
NOUN
B1
4
This flashlight needs two new cells.
Ehhez a zseblámpához két új elem kell.
Solar cells convert sunlight into electricity.
A napelemek a napfényt elektromos energiává alakítják.
The phone's battery has six individual cells.
Fuel cells are used to power some cars.
Learner examples
The watch needs one new cell.
Az órába egy új elem kell.
Solar cells make power from the sun.
A napelemek áramot termelnek a napfényből.
A battery has many cells.
The car uses fuel cells.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with biological cells; context about electricity helps distinguish it.
Meaning
unit of a battery
Collocations
battery cell
|solar cell
|fuel cell
|lithium-ion cell
Synonyms
battery unit (Describes the same concept but emphasizes its role as part of a battery.)
Antonyms
dead cell (A non-functioning electrical cell.)
Themes
technology
|energy
|science
Definition
One part of a battery that makes electricity.
A single electrochemical unit that produces an electric current, used alone or as part of a battery.
NOUN
A2
5
cella
B1
Enter the value into the highlighted cell.
Írd be az értéket a kijelölt cellába.
You can merge two cells to make one larger box.
Két cellát összevonhatsz, hogy egy nagyobb cellát kapj.
Click on the cell to edit its contents.
Each cell has its own reference code.
Learner examples
Type your name in this cell.
Írd be a neved ebbe a cellába.
Click the cell to change it.
Kattints a cellára, hogy módosítsd.
This cell has numbers.
We merge two cells into one.
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse spreadsheet 'cell' with biological or prison meanings; computer context clarifies it.
Meaning
spreadsheet data box
Collocations
spreadsheet cell
|merge cells
|edit a cell
|cell reference
Synonyms
data box (Informal description emphasizing storage of information.)
Antonyms
empty space (Lack of defined data entry area.)
Themes
computing
|business
|technology
|work
Definition
One box in a table on a computer where you put information.
An individual rectangular box in a spreadsheet where data can be entered and stored.
NOUN
A2
6
mobiltelefon
A1
mobil
A1
I'll call you on my cell when I arrive.
Felhívlak a mobilomról, amikor megérkezem.
She forgot her cell at home.
Otthon felejtette a mobilját.
Most teenagers carry their cells everywhere.
Learner examples
I have a new cell.
Van egy új mobilom.
Call me on my cell.
Hívj fel a mobilomon.
He lost his cell yesterday.
Common mistake:
'Cell' alone for 'cell phone' is mostly North American; learners from other regions may find it unusual or unclear without 'phone'.
Meaning
mobile phone (informal)
Collocations
cell phone
|call on my cell
|lose my cell
Synonyms
mobile phone (Standard term; 'cell' is shorter and informal.)
Antonyms
landline phone (A telephone connected by wires, not mobile.)
Themes
technology
|communication
Definition
An informal word for a mobile phone used mainly in the US and Canada.
Informal term for a mobile phone, especially in North America.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cell
IPA
GB/sˈɛl/
US/sˈɛl/
Syllables & stress
cell (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cell)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cell
- Plural: cells
Word family
Forms
cells
noun
Core family
cellular
adjective B1
Related words
cellphone
noun
cellmate
noun
Advanced or less common
multicellular
adjective
unicellular
adjective
Expressions
cell phone
1/sˈɛl fˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
portable wireless telephone device
A phone you can carry and use anywhere that connects without wires.
Examples
- She answered her cell phone during the meeting.
- I left my cell phone charging at home.
fuel cell
1/fjˈul sˈɛl/
fixed phrase
technical
device generating electricity from fuel chemically
A device that makes electricity from fuel without burning it.
Examples
- The car runs on hydrogen fuel cells.
- Fuel cells are becoming more efficient each year.
prison cell
1/pɹˈɪzən sˈɛl/
fixed phrase
secure room for prisoners in prison facility
A small locked room in prison where prisoners stay.
Examples
- He spent three years in a tiny prison cell.
- The prison cells are inspected daily by guards.
stem cell
1/stˈɛm sˈɛl/
fixed phrase
technical
undifferentiated biological cell type
A special kind of body cell that can grow into different kinds of cells.
Examples
- Stem cell research has advanced rapidly in recent years.
- Doctors hope stem cells can help repair damaged tissues.