cell wall

cell wall
noun
a rigid layer of polysaccharides enclosing the membrane of plant and prokaryotic cells; maintains the shape of the cell and serves as a protective barrier
• Hypernyms: ↑layer
• Part Holonyms: ↑plant cell

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noun
1. : the somewhat rigid permeable wall typical of plant cells (as the cellulose or celluloselike layers secreted by the cytoplasm in most plants) at first thin and delicate but modified in extent, thickness, and chemical nature as it develops and matures — compare cutinization, lignify, primary wall
2. : a membrane bounding an animal cell; usually : plasma membrane

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Biol.
the definite boundary or wall that is part of the outer structure of certain cells, as a plant cell. See diag. under cell.
[1840-50]

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cell wall noun (biology)
The nonliving covering or separating wall of a cell, esp the semi-rigid covering of a plant cell, containing cellulose, lignin, etc
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Main Entry: ↑cell

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cell wall UK US noun [countable] [singular cell wall plural cell walls] biology
a strong layer that surrounds each cell in some living things, protecting them and giving them shape

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cell wall,
the hard, transparent outer covering of a plant cell, made up mostly of cellulose and surrounding the cell membrane: »

The cell wall is generally present in plant cells where it serves to support the cells and the plant as a whole, but in animals it is frequently lacking (A. M. Winchester).

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n. Biology a rigid layer of polysaccharides lying outside the plasma membrane of the cells of plants, fungi, and bacteria. In the algae and higher plants, it consists mainly of cellulose

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cell wall — n. Biol. the nonliving covering or separating wall of a cell; esp., the relatively rigid covering of a plant cell, containing cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, etc …   English World dictionary

  • cell wall — n the usu. rigid nonliving permeable wall that surrounds the plasma membrane and encloses and supports the cells of most plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae * * * a rigid structure that lies just outside of and is joined to the plasma membrane of… …   Medical dictionary

  • cell wall — cell′ wall′ n. cbl the definite boundary or wall that is part of the outer structure of certain cells, as a plant cell • Etymology: 1840–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • cell wall — cell wall. См. клеточная стенка. (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 wall — A cell wall is a tough, flexible and sometimes fairly rigid layer surrounding a cell, located external to the cell membrane, which provides the cell with structural support, protection, and acts as a filtering mechanism. A major function of the… …   Wikipedia

  • cell wall — noun /sɛl wɔːl,sɛl wɔːl,sɛl wɑːl/ A thick, fairly rigid, layer formed around individual cells of bacteria, Archaea, fungi, plants, and algae (but not animals and other protists which generally have cell membranes without cell walls). The cell… …   Wiktionary

  • cell wall — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms cell wall : singular cell wall plural cell walls biology a strong layer that surrounds each cell in some living things, protecting them and giving them shape …   English dictionary

  • cell wall — Extracellular material serving a structural role. In plants the primary wall is pectin rich, the secondary wall mostly composed of cellulose. In bacteria, cell wall structure is complex: the walls of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria are… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • cell wall — Biol. the definite boundary or wall that is part of the outer structure of certain cells, as a plant cell. See diag. under cell. [1840 50] * * * …   Universalium

  • cell wall — /ˈsɛl wɔl/ (say sel wawl) noun the definite boundary or wall which is usually part of the structure of a biological cell, especially a plant cell. See cell1 (def. 4a) …  

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