cellulose
[ sel-yuh-lohs ]
/ ˈsɛl yəˌloʊs /
noun
an inert carbohydrate, (C6H10O5)n, the chief constituent of the cell walls of plants and of wood, cotton, hemp, paper, etc.
OTHER WORDS FROM cellulose
cel·lu·los·i·ty [sel-yuh-los-i-tee] /ˌsɛl yəˈlɒs ɪ ti/, noun sem·i·cel·lu·lose, nounWords nearby cellulose
Example sentences from the Web for cellulose
British Dictionary definitions for cellulose
cellulose
/ (ˈsɛljʊˌləʊz, -ˌləʊs) /
noun
a polysaccharide consisting of long unbranched chains of linked glucose units: the main constituent of plant cell walls and used in making paper, rayon, and film
Derived forms of cellulose
cellulosic, adjective, nounWord Origin for cellulose
C18: from French
cellule cell (see
cellule) +
-ose ²
Medical definitions for cellulose
cellulose
[ sĕl′yə-lōs′, -lōz′ ]
n.
A complex carbohydrate that is composed of glucose units, forms the main constituent of the cell wall in most plants, and is important in the manufacture of numerous products, such as pharmaceuticals.
Scientific definitions for cellulose
cellulose
[ sĕl′yə-lōs′ ]
A carbohydrate that is a polymer composed of glucose units and that is the main component of the cell walls of most plants. It is insoluble in water and is used to make paper, cellophane, textiles, explosives, and other products.
See cellulose acetate.
Cultural definitions for cellulose
cellulose
[ (sel-yuh-lohs) ]
A stringy, fibrous substance that forms the main material in the cell walls of plants. Cellulose is an organic molecule (see also organic molecules), composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.