(biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; they may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals
"Under a microscope, the student examined how individual plant cells organized into complex tissue layers to transport water throughout the stem."
a device that delivers an electric current as the result of a chemical reaction
"The old flashlight stopped working because its battery cell finally ran out after years of powering up the beam in my grandfather's garage."
a hand-held mobile radiotelephone for use in an area divided into small sections, each with its own short-range transmitter/receiver
"He checked his cell to call home before the meeting started."
a room where a prisoner is kept
"The guard led the new inmate down to his cell before locking the door behind him."
A single-room dwelling for a hermit.
"I left my cell on the table by mistake, so I can't answer your call right now."
A cellular phone.
In plain English: A cell is the smallest unit of life that makes up all living things.
"The prisoner was moved to a small, solitary cell in the basement."
Usage: In casual conversation, calling your mobile device a "cell" is acceptable shorthand, but you should always use the full term "cell phone" or "mobile phone" in formal writing. Reserve the singular "cell" for biological units or prison rooms to avoid ambiguity.
To place or enclose in a cell.
"The guards decided to lock the prisoner in his small cell for the night."
In plain English: To cell means to put someone in a small room so they cannot leave or talk to anyone else.
"The new app will automatically send your location to every cell in your phone's network."
Usage: Use the verb "to cell" only when describing the act of imprisoning someone in a small room or enclosure. In modern conversation, people almost always use this word as a noun to refer to a battery unit, a prison room, or a biological compartment.
The word "cell" comes from the Latin cella, which originally meant a small room or chamber. It entered English through Middle English, carrying its original sense of a confined space.