body cell: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-MidSpecialized / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “body cell” mean?
The basic structural and functional unit of an organism's body, excluding reproductive cells (gametes).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The basic structural and functional unit of an organism's body, excluding reproductive cells (gametes).
In a broader sense, it can refer to any constituent cell of a larger structure (e.g., the 'body cell' of a battery). In business contexts, it sometimes metaphorically refers to a fundamental unit or team within an organization.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'body cell' identically in technical contexts.
Connotations
Neutral and scientific in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both, primarily confined to biology/medicine textbooks and discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “body cell” in a Sentence
[Adj] body cellbody cell of [noun]body cell [verb, e.g., divides, contains]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “body cell” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The damaged tissue will need to body-cell its way to recovery. (Very rare/poetic)
American English
- (No standard verb use)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb use)
American English
- (No standard adverb use)
adjective
British English
- The body-cell division process is tightly regulated.
American English
- Researchers observed a body-cell mutation in the sample.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'Each department is a body cell of the corporate organism.'
Academic
Primary context. Used in biology, medicine, and genetics to distinguish somatic from germline cells.
Everyday
Very rare. Might appear in simplified health or science news.
Technical
Standard term in life sciences and medical research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “body cell”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “body cell”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “body cell”
- Using 'body cell' to refer to any cell, including blood cells (though correct, it's more specific to contrast with gametes).
- Pronouncing it as a single word 'bodycell'.
- Confusing 'body cell' with 'cell body' (the part of a neuron).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in biological contexts, 'body cell' and 'somatic cell' are synonymous. Both refer to any cell forming the body of an organism, excluding gametes (reproductive cells).
Yes, red blood cells are somatic body cells, even though they lack a nucleus in mammals. They are part of the body's tissues and are not involved in reproduction.
Yes, the term applies to all multicellular organisms. A leaf cell in a plant is a body (somatic) cell, just as a muscle cell is in an animal.
It is crucial in genetics and evolution. Changes (mutations) in body cells affect only the individual, while mutations in gametes can be passed to offspring, influencing heredity.
The basic structural and functional unit of an organism's body, excluding reproductive cells (gametes).
Body cell is usually specialized / scientific in register.
Body cell: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒdi ˌsel/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːdi ˌsel/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(not commonly used idiomatically)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of your BODY as made of building blocks; each block is a BODY CELL. It's in your body, not for making babies (those are gametes).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A CITY / FACTORY: Body cells are the workers, citizens, or individual machines performing specialized functions.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining feature of a 'body cell'?