cell
gb/sˈɛl/ us/sˈɛl/
A2
English
~ 800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
small prison room
A small locked room in a prison where one person stays.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is in a cell
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cell' with 'room' in general, but 'cell' specifically means a small, enclosed space for confinement.
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.)
Collocations
prison cell
|jail cell
|lock the cell
|share a cell
|cell door
Themes
law
|crime
|buildings
|housing
Examples
- The guard escorted the inmate back to his cell.
- She spent the night in a police cell after the protest.
- 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.
- The man sleeps in his cell.
- The police put her in a cell.
- The cell has one bed.
Noun
B1
entity
2
smallest living unit
The smallest part of a living thing, usually too small to see without a microscope.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'cell' with 'battery cell' or 'cellphone'. Context usually clarifies meaning.
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.)
Collocations
nerve cell
|plant cell
|blood cell
|cell membrane
|cell division
Themes
science
|biology
|body
Examples
- The human body is made up of trillions of cells.
- Plant cells have a rigid wall outside the membrane.
- Blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body.
- Scientists observed the cell under a powerful microscope.
Learner examples
- Your body has many cells.
- A plant has green cells.
- We can see cells with a microscope.
- Cells make up animals and plants.
Noun
B2
entity
3
small secret group unit
A small secret group that is part of a bigger group, often for political or criminal work.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'cell' here refers to a physical room; it means an organizational unit.
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.)
Collocations
terrorist cell
|spy cell
|militant cell
|underground cell
Themes
politics
|crime
|law
Examples
- The police uncovered a terrorist cell in the city.
- Each cell operated independently to avoid detection.
- An underground cell planned the demonstration.
- Authorities arrested members of a spy cell.
Learner examples
- The police found a terrorist cell.
- Each cell works alone.
- The group has many small cells.
- They stopped the secret cell.
Noun
B1
entity
4
unit of a battery
One part of a battery that makes electricity.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with biological cells; context about electricity helps distinguish it.
Synonyms
battery unit (Describes the same concept but emphasizes its role as part of a battery.)
Antonyms
dead cell (A non-functioning electrical cell.)
Collocations
battery cell
|solar cell
|fuel cell
|lithium-ion cell
Themes
technology
|energy
|science
Examples
- This flashlight needs two new cells.
- Solar cells convert sunlight into electricity.
- The phone's battery has six individual cells.
- Fuel cells are used to power some cars.
Learner examples
- The watch needs one new cell.
- Solar cells make power from the sun.
- A battery has many cells.
- The car uses fuel cells.
Noun
A2
entity
5
spreadsheet data box
One box in a table on a computer where you put information.
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse spreadsheet 'cell' with biological or prison meanings; computer context clarifies it.
Synonyms
data box (Informal description emphasizing storage of information.)
Antonyms
empty space (Lack of defined data entry area.)
Collocations
spreadsheet cell
|merge cells
|edit a cell
|cell reference
Themes
computing
|business
|technology
|work
Examples
- Enter the value into the highlighted cell.
- You can merge two cells to make one larger box.
- Click on the cell to edit its contents.
- Each cell has its own reference code.
Learner examples
- Type your name in this cell.
- Click the cell to change it.
- This cell has numbers.
- We merge two cells into one.
Noun
A2
entity
6
mobile phone (informal)
An informal word for a mobile phone used mainly in the US and Canada.
Common mistake:
'Cell' alone for 'cell phone' is mostly North American; learners from other regions may find it unusual or unclear without 'phone'.
Synonyms
mobile phone (Standard term; 'cell' is shorter and informal.)
Antonyms
landline phone (A telephone connected by wires, not mobile.)
Collocations
cell phone
|call on my cell
|lose my cell
Themes
technology
|communication
Examples
- I'll call you on my cell when I arrive.
- She forgot her cell at home.
- Most teenagers carry their cells everywhere.
Learner examples
- I have a new cell.
- Call me on my cell.
- He lost his cell yesterday.
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.