cell

Definition

noun

(Biology)
the basic independently functioning unit of all plant and animal tissue
a separate unit or section of something larger
(Electricity)
a system of positive and negative plates for storage of electricity that form a battery

Example A battery is a device which converts chemical energy into electrical energy and is made up of a number of cells.
(Computing)
a single function or number in a spreadsheet program
(Computing)
a single memory location, capable of storing a data word, accessed by an individual address
(Computing)
a fixed-length packet of data, e.g. one in the ATM system containing 53-octets of data
(Meteorology)
the central part of a thunder cloud

Example The life cycle of the thunderstorm cell ends when the downdraughts have spread throughout the cloud.

COMMENT A biological cell is a unit which can reproduce itself. It is made up of a jelly-like substance (cytoplasm) which surrounds a nucleus and contains many other small organelles which are different according to the type of cell. Cells reproduce by division (mitosis) and the chemical reactions that occur with them are the basis of metabolism. The process of division and reproduction of cells is how the human body is formed.