cell
Smallest living unit
The original meaning of cell—a small room in a monastery—might never have gained traction had a group of such rooms not resembled to the arrangement of the microscopic structures that compose all living things.
That meaning of cell is by far the most frequent today, but speakers use cell as a handy designation for any close, orderly arrangement of similar structures, such one of the spaces in a honeycomb or in a spreadsheet.
Cell phones are so-called because the network over which they communicate is divided into adjacent cells.
Central controlling part
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- cytoplasmGel surrounding the nucleus
- membraneThin tissue sheet
- organellesSpecialized cell subunits
ribosomes · chromosomes · DNA · proteins · enzymes · division · replication · metabolism
Confined facility resident
- barsRods, taverns, or measures
- confinementState of being restricted
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
- wardenSupervisory custodian of place
guard · incarceration · detention · lockup · dungeon · penitentiary · correctional · jailhouse
Impulse-conducting cell
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
neurotransmitter · signal · action potential · nerve · brain · sensory · motor neuron · glial
Cloistered religious devotee
- nunHebrew alphabet's fourteenth
- cloisterCovered monastic walkway
- monasteryReligious seclusion dwelling
- abbeyMonastic house of worship
convent · hermitage · priory · spartan · austere · contemplative · solitary · retreat
Enclosed subdivision of space
- moduleIndependent functional component
- partitionBarrier separating spaces
- gridFramework of intersecting lines
- honeycombWax matrix of hexagons
segment · chamber · cubicle · pod · enclosure · subdivide · structure · hexagonal
Two-letter abbreviation
- AAATop credit rating
- lithiumLightest solid element
- alkalineHaving high pH
- rechargeableAble to regain power
volt · voltage · anode · cathode · power · energy · charger · discharge
Violent political intimidator
- sleeperOne at rest
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- covertIntentionally concealed
- operativeCovert field agent
insurgent · network · revolutionary · resistance · splinter · secret · activist · subversive
nucleus
Central controlling part
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- cytoplasmGel surrounding the nucleus
- membraneThin tissue sheet
organelles · ribosomes · chromosomes · DNA · proteins · enzymes · division · replication · metabolism · cytoskeleton
inmate
Confined facility resident
- barsRods, taverns, or measures
- confinementState of being restricted
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
warden · guard · incarceration · detention · lockup · dungeon · penitentiary · correctional · jailhouse · sentence
neuron
Impulse-conducting cell
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
receptor · neurotransmitter · signal · action potential · nerve · brain · sensory · motor neuron · glial · impulse
monk
Cloistered religious devotee
- nunHebrew alphabet's fourteenth
- cloisterCovered monastic walkway
- monasteryReligious seclusion dwelling
abbey · convent · hermitage · priory · spartan · austere · contemplative · solitary · retreat · vow
compartment
Enclosed subdivision of space
- moduleIndependent functional component
- partitionBarrier separating spaces
- gridFramework of intersecting lines
honeycomb · segment · chamber · cubicle · pod · enclosure · subdivide · structure · hexagonal · lattice
AA
Two-letter abbreviation
rechargeable · volt · voltage · anode · cathode · power · energy · charger · discharge · capacity
terrorist
Violent political intimidator
- sleeperOne at rest
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- covertIntentionally concealed
operative · insurgent · network · revolutionary · resistance · splinter · secret · activist · subversive
- biologyDNA, biology, gene, bacteriology, evolution
- biology termsDNA, genetics, genetic, evolution, vertebrate
- prisoninmate, jail, prison, prisoner, warden
- science termsbiology, chemistry, physics, math, experiment
- barrierswalls, wall, fences, fence, barrier
- confinementcage, prison, jail, imprisonment, captivity
cellorganism
Living biological entity
body · organ system · organ · creature · system
cellfreedom
Absence of constraint
liberty · open space · free world · open world · emancipation
cellopen space
Unobstructed outdoor area
expanse · hall · atrium · outdoors · great room
- cell phonePortable wireless communicator
- brain cellsNeural tissue components
- jail cellLocked prisoner compartment
- sleeper cellsHidden agents awaiting orders
- prison cellLocked room for inmates
- cell blocksPrison housing divisions
cellar, cells, cellular, cellulose, blood cells, cellophane, cellist, cell's, stem cell