cell

cell — noun

1. the tiniest living unit in any plant or animal, invisible except through a micro

1.名詞B2
釋義

the tiniest living unit in any plant or animal, invisible except through a microscope; all living things are built from these units.

例句

The human body contains trillions of cells that work together.

contains + trillions of cells

A blood sample can show whether the white cells are fighting infection.

blood cell / white cell

同義詞
  • microorganism

    different — a living thing made of one cell, not a single unit of a larger organism

  • unit

    very general; not specific to biology

  • organelle

    a smaller part inside a cell, not the cell itself

文法句型

cell + verb (divide, grow, die)

blood / skin / muscle / cancer + cell

cell + noun (wall, membrane, division)

用法筆記

This is the core biological sense. It appears frequently in compound nouns: blood cell, skin cell, nerve cell, stem cell, and cancer cell. You can also say a cell divides, grows, or dies.

常見錯誤

❌My body has cells and I feel good.
✅Every plant and animal is made of tiny cells that you can only see with a microscope.
💡The word is too general for daily health talk; use it for scientific or biological description.

2. a basic room, often with nothing more than a bed, used for locking up convicts a

2.名詞B2
釋義

a basic room, often with nothing more than a bed, used for locking up convicts at jailhouses or for a brother or sister sleeping alone at a religious house.

例句

The guard locked the door of the prison cell at nine o'clock.

prison cell

Ravi shared a cell with two other men for six months.

shared a cell with

同義詞
  • cage

    more negative; implies bars and confinement like an animal

  • chamber

    formal, neutral, and broader in meaning

  • dungeon

    underground prison room, usually dark and old

文法句型

in a/the cell

prison / jail / monk's / nun's + cell

cell + noun (door, window, mate)

用法筆記

This sense has two main branches: prison cells (for criminals) and monastery cells (for monks or nuns). The prison branch is much more common in everyday English. In compounds: prison cell, jail cell, holding cell, padded cell.

常見錯誤

❌I slept in a small hotel cell.
✅I slept in a small hotel room.
💡A cell is a room in a prison or a monastery, not in a hotel.

3. a device that creates electricity by using a chemical reaction or by collecting

3.名詞B2
釋義

a device that creates electricity by using a chemical reaction or by collecting light energy, such as a dry cell or a solar cell.

例句

The solar cell on the roof powers the garden lights at night.

solar cell

A fuel cell converts hydrogen into electricity without burning fuel.

fuel cell

同義詞
  • battery

    often used interchangeably in everyday speech, though technically a battery contains multiple cells

  • accumulator

    technical term for a rechargeable battery

文法句型

cell + noun (battery, charger)

solar / fuel / dry + cell

cell produces/generates + energy

用法筆記

This sense describes a single unit that produces electricity. It is broader than battery, since a battery contains one or more cells. Common compounds: solar cell, fuel cell, dry cell. Not to be confused with a prison cell or a phone (sense 4).

常見錯誤

❌I need a new cell for my smartphone.
✅I need a new battery for my smartphone.
💡A cell is a single electricity-producing unit inside a battery; general users say battery for the whole device.

4. a short way of saying cell phone; a telephone that has no wires and can be carri

4.名詞A2
釋義

a short way of saying cell phone; a telephone that has no wires and can be carried anywhere because it works by radio, used for calls, messages, and internet.

例句

Diego reached for his cell as soon as the train arrived.

possessive + cell

Can I borrow your cell for a quick call to the doctor?

同義詞
反義詞
  • landline

    a phone connected to a fixed wire in a building

文法句型

on my/his/her + cell

call + someone on + possessive + cell

cell phone

用法筆記

The shortened form cell is mainly used in North American English. In British English, mobile or phone is more common. Use this sense only in informal situations — for formal writing, use cell phone or mobile phone.

常見錯誤

❌My jail cell needs a new battery.
✅My phone needs a new battery.
💡Prison cell and phone cell are different words with the same spelling. Context always makes the meaning clear.

5. one of the small spaces, sections, or compartments that together make up a large

5.名詞B1
釋義

one of the small spaces, sections, or compartments that together make up a larger structure, such as a honeycomb, a beehive, or a storage box.

例句

Each cell of the honeycomb holds a single drop of honey.

cells of a honeycomb

The bees filled every cell in the hive before harvesting began.

cell in the hive

同義詞
  • compartment

    a more general word for a separate section within a container

  • section

    focuses on the division rather than the enclosed space

  • cavity

    suggests an empty space inside a solid material

文法句型

cell of + noun

the cells of a + structure

用法筆記

This is a general sense describing any small compartment within a larger structure. It is less specific than the biological or prison senses. Commonly used for honeycomb cells and sometimes for grid-based storage systems.

常見錯誤

❌I put ice cubes in the cell of the tray.
✅I put ice cubes in the compartment of the tray.
💡An ice-cube tray has compartments, but most speakers call them slots or sections.

6. a tiny team of operatives inside a bigger political body, typically operating in

6.名詞C1
釋義

a tiny team of operatives inside a bigger political body, typically operating in secrecy and often planning unlawful or violent acts.

例句

The police discovered a terrorist cell operating in the city centre.

terrorist cell

Members of the revolutionary cell met in a basement to plan their next move.

revolutionary cell

同義詞
  • faction

    a group within a larger one, often with differing opinions; less secret than a cell

  • splinter group

    a group that has broken away from a larger organization

  • ring

    a group of people working together, especially illegally

  • unit

    neutral and general; not specifically secret or political

文法句型

terrorist / revolutionary / secret + cell

cell of + organization

cell operates / meets / plans

用法筆記

This sense carries a strong connotation of secrecy, conspiracy, and often violence. It appears most often in news reporting about terrorism, espionage, and underground political movements. The members of a cell typically do not know the members of other cells, for security reasons.

常見錯誤

❌Our study group is a cell for learning Spanish.
✅Our study group is a small group for learning Spanish.
💡A political cell implies secrecy and often illegal activity. Casual study or hobby groups should not use this word.

7. a single box in a spreadsheet application (like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets

7.名詞B1
釋義

a single box in a spreadsheet application (like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets) where you put a number, a word, or a calculation.

例句

Theo entered the sales total into cell B12 of the spreadsheet.

cell + column/row reference

When you select a cell, its address appears in the top-left corner.

select a cell

同義詞
  • box

    general word for a square on a form or page

  • field

    database term for a space that holds one piece of data

  • square

    simple everyday word for a small four-sided space

文法句型

cell + noun (reference, address, value)

select / enter data into / click on + a cell

cell A1, cell B2, etc.

用法筆記

Each cell on a spreadsheet is identified by a unique address made of its column letter and row number, for example A1, F12, or Z100. This sense is used in computing and office contexts. In everyday English, the word box or square is more common for general grid spaces.

常見錯誤

❌Write your answer in the cell of the exam paper.
✅Write your answer in the box on the exam paper.
💡Spreadsheet cells are for computer programs. Paper forms use squares or boxes.