cell division: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Academic / Scientific / Technical
Quick answer
What does “cell division” mean?
The process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells.
The biological process underlying growth, reproduction, and repair in organisms; frequently used metaphorically to describe the rapid, often uncontrolled, proliferation of an entity (e.g., ideas, political factions).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. Pronunciation may vary slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent in academic and scientific contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “cell division” in a Sentence
The [type of] cell division is crucial for [function].[Noun] undergoes/initiates/stimulates cell division.Cell division in [organism/tissue] leads to [outcome].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cell division” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The zygote will begin to cell-divide rapidly.
- These cancerous cells cell-divide uncontrollably.
American English
- The embryo starts to cell-divide after fertilization.
- The tumour cells cell-divide at an alarming rate.
adverb
British English
- The tissue grew cell-division rapidly.
- The cells reproduced almost cell-division-like.
American English
- The colony expanded cell-division fast.
- It propagated in a cell-division manner.
adjective
British English
- The cell-division cycle is tightly regulated.
- They observed a cell-division event under the microscope.
American English
- The cell-division process is fundamental to life.
- He studies cell-division mechanisms in yeast.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The team underwent a cell division, spawning two rival departments.'
Academic
Primary domain. Standard term in biology textbooks and research papers.
Everyday
Low frequency. Mostly in educational contexts or news about health (e.g., cancer).
Technical
The precise, standard term in biology and medicine.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cell division”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cell division”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cell division”
- Misspelling as 'cel division'.
- Using 'cell division' as a verb (e.g., 'The cell divisioned').
- Confusing with 'cell differentiation'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word compound noun, commonly written with a space. In some technical adjectival uses, it may be hyphenated (e.g., cell-division cycle).
Mitosis (for growth and repair, producing identical cells) and Meiosis (for sexual reproduction, producing gametes with half the chromosomes).
No, 'cell division' is a noun. The verb form is 'to divide' (e.g., 'The cell divides'). The hyphenated form 'cell-divide' is a rare, non-standard back-formation used informally in some scientific writing.
They are closely related but not identical. 'Cell reproduction' often refers to the overall process by which cells produce offspring, which includes cell division, but may also encompass preceding steps like DNA replication. 'Cell division' specifically denotes the physical splitting of the cell.
The process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells.
Cell division is usually academic / scientific / technical in register.
Cell division: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsel dɪˈvɪʒ.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsel dɪˈvɪʒ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's like cell division – one idea splits into a dozen others.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a prison CELL. A single prisoner (parent cell) divides the space into two separate cells (daughter cells).
Conceptual Metaphor
PROLIFERATION IS SPLITTING; GROWTH IS DIVISION.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a direct result of normal, controlled cell division?