noun

die Zelle, -n

cell

Der kleinste Baustein eines Lebewesens. Auch: ein kleiner Raum, zum Beispiel in einem Gefängnis.

Definition & meaning

The word Zelle has several meanings depending on the context:

Biology: It is the smallest structural and functional unit of a living organism. All plants and animals are made of these microscopic building blocks.
Architecture and Law: It refers to a very small room, typically one meant for a single person. This is most frequently used to describe a room in a prison (Gefängnis) or a small living space for a monk or nun in a monastery (Kloster).
Technology and Physics: It describes a single unit that can generate or store electricity, such as a battery cell or a solar cell. It can also refer to a specific section within a larger structure, like a honeycomb.
Sociology and Politics: It represents a small, often secretive or autonomous sub-unit of a larger organization or movement, such as a terrorist cell or a local political branch.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a feminine noun (die Zelle). Its plural form is die Zellen.

The term originates from the Latin word "cella," which means a small room, a chamber, or a storehouse. It entered the German language via the Old High German word "zella." While it originally referred only to physical rooms, its use was expanded to biology in the 17th century after the invention of the microscope, as the structures seen in cork reminded researchers of the small rooms in a monastery.