cellular
gb/sˈɛljəlɚ/ us/sˈɛljəlɚ/
B1
English
~ 3700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Relating to mobile phone systems
About mobile phone service or technology that uses radio signals.
Usage pattern:
[something] is cellular
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cellular' with 'cell' meaning 'prison cell' or 'biological cell'. Context about phones makes the meaning clear.
Synonyms
mobile (Commonly used in British English to refer to mobile phone services.)
Antonyms
landline (Refers to telephone service using physical wires, not wireless radio cells.)
Collocations
cellular network
|cellular coverage
|cellular service
|cellular provider
Themes
technology
|communication
Examples
- The new plan offers unlimited data on the cellular network.
- Cellular coverage is poor in this rural area.
- She switched to a different cellular provider to get better service.
Learner examples
- I use a cellular phone every day.
- This area has bad cellular signal.
- He works for a cellular company.
adjective
technical
B2
property
2
Made up of biological cells
Made of or about the small parts of living things called cells.
Usage pattern:
[something] is cellular
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'cellular' with 'celluloid' or other similar-sounding words unrelated to biology.
Synonyms
cytological (More formal scientific term used in biology.)
Antonyms
acellular (Describes something not made of cells.)
Collocations
cellular structure
|cellular biology
|cellular damage
|cellular function
Themes
science
|biology
|health
Examples
- Cellular biology is a fundamental field in life sciences.
- The disease causes cellular damage over time.
- Researchers studied the cellular structure of the tissue.
Learner examples
- Plants have a cellular structure.
- Cellular damage can make you sick.
- We learn about cellular life in school.
adjective
B2
property
3
Made up of small compartments
Having many small parts or spaces inside, like a honeycomb.
Usage pattern:
[something] is cellular
Synonyms
honeycombed (Informal descriptive term evoking honeycomb-like appearance.)
Antonyms
solid (Without internal divisions or compartments.)
Collocations
cellular pattern
|cellular design
|cellular structure
Themes
architecture
|design
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The foam has a fine cellular structure for insulation.
- The building’s walls have a cellular design for strength and lightness.
- This material’s cellular composition makes it lightweight.
Learner examples
- The sponge has a cellular shape.
- The wall is made with a cellular design.
- We saw a rock with a cellular pattern.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cellular
IPA
GB/sˈɛljəlɚ/
US/sˈɛljəlɚ/
Syllables & stress
cel - lu - lar (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cel)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: cellular
Word family
Core family
cell
noun A2
Related words
cellphone
noun
cellulose
noun
Advanced or less common
unicellular
adjective
multicellular
adjective
Expressions
cellular data
1/sˈɛljəlɚ dˈætə/
fixed phrase
technical
Internet service via mobile network
Internet access that uses your mobile phone service instead of Wi-Fi.
Examples
- I ran out of my monthly cellular data allowance.
- Turn off cellular data to save battery life.
cellular network
2/sˈɛljəlɚ nˈɛtwˌɚk/
fixed phrase
technical
Mobile phone communication system
A system that lets mobile phones talk to each other using radio signals and towers.
Examples
- The cellular network was down after the storm.
- She switched providers for better access to the cellular network.
cellular phone
3/sˈɛljəlɚ fˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
Mobile telephone device
A phone you can carry that uses radio signals instead of wires.
Examples
- He bought a new cellular phone last week.
- Cellular phones have changed the way we communicate.