Cell theory

Cell theory
Cell Cell, n. [OF. celle, fr. L. cella; akin to celare to hide, and E. hell, helm, conceal. Cf. {Hall}.] 1. A very small and close apartment, as in a prison or in a monastery or convent; the hut of a hermit. [1913 Webster]

The heroic confessor in his cell. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

2. A small religious house attached to a monastery or convent. ``Cells or dependent priories.'' --Milman. [1913 Webster]

3. Any small cavity, or hollow place. [1913 Webster]

4. (Arch.) (a) The space between the ribs of a vaulted roof. (b) Same as {Cella}. [1913 Webster]

5. (Elec.) A jar of vessel, or a division of a compound vessel, for holding the exciting fluid of a battery. [1913 Webster]

6. (Biol.) One of the minute elementary structures, of which the greater part of the various tissues and organs of animals and plants are composed. [1913 Webster]

Note: All cells have their origin in the primary cell from which the organism was developed. In the lowest animal and vegetable forms, one single cell constitutes the complete individual, such being called unicelluter orgamisms. A typical cell is composed of a semifluid mass of protoplasm, more or less granular, generally containing in its center a nucleus which in turn frequently contains one or more nucleoli, the whole being surrounded by a thin membrane, the cell wall. In some cells, as in those of blood, in the am[oe]ba, and in embryonic cells (both vegetable and animal), there is no restricting cell wall, while in some of the unicelluliar organisms the nucleus is wholly wanting. See Illust. of {Bipolar}. [1913 Webster]

{Air cell}. See {Air cell}.

{Cell development} (called also {cell genesis}, {cell formation}, and {cytogenesis}), the multiplication, of cells by a process of reproduction under the following common forms; segmentation or fission, gemmation or budding, karyokinesis, and endogenous multiplication. See {Segmentation}, {Gemmation}, etc.

{Cell theory}. (Biol.) See {Cellular theory}, under {Cellular}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Cell theory — refers to the idea that cells are the basic unit of structure in every living thing. Development of this theory during the Mid 1600s was made possible by advances in microscopy. This theory is one of the foundations of biology. The theory says… …   Wikipedia

  • cell theory — n a theory in biology that includes one or both of the statements that the cell is the fundamental structural and functional unit of living matter and that the organism is composed of autonomous cells with its properties being the sum of those of …   Medical dictionary

  • cell theory — cell theory. См. клеточная теория. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • Cell theory — Cellular Cel lu*lar (s[e^]l [u^]*l[ e]r; 135), a. [L. cellula a little cell: cf. F. cellulaire. See {Cellule}.] 1. Consisting of, or containing, cells; of or pertaining to a cell or cells. [1913 Webster] 2. porous; containing cavities. [PJC] 3.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cell theory — noun (biology) the theory that cells form the fundamental structural and functional units of all living organisms; proposed in 1838 by Matthias Schleiden and by Theodor Schwann • Syn: ↑cell doctrine • Topics: ↑biology, ↑biological science •… …   Useful english dictionary

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  • cell theory — cell′ the ory n. (lab cbl) bio the tenet in biology that cells are the basic units of structure and function in living organisms • Etymology: 1885–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • cell theory — noun Date: 1859 a theory in biology that includes one or both of the statements that the cell is the fundamental structural and functional unit of living matter and that the organism is composed of autonomous cells with its properties being the… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cell theory — All organisms are composed of cell(s); a cell is the smallest unit of matter that is alive (functional unit) proposed by Schwann for animals in 1838 40; cells are the reproductive units of all organisms; cellular …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • cell theory — noun the theory that all living organisms are made of cells as the smallest functional unit …   Wiktionary

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