organelle
A student points to the nucleus, an organelle, in a diagram of an animal cell.
Noun: A specialized, often membrane-bound, structure within a cell that performs a specific function necessary for the cell's life. Organelles are to a cell what organs are to a body.
The word "organelle" is a scientific term used in cell biology. It refers to the distinct, functional subunits of a cell's cytoplasm. * The mitochondrion is an organelle responsible for producing energy. * Scientists study how each organelle contributes to overall cellular health. * Plant cells contain chloroplasts, an organelle not found in animal cells.
- "Membrane-bound organelle": An organelle enclosed by its own lipid bilayer, such as the nucleus or Golgi apparatus.
- Eukaryotic cells are characterized by having membrane-bound organelles.
- The term can be used metaphorically in very specialized technical contexts to describe a functional subunit within a complex machine or system, though this is rare.
- Organellar (adjective): Of or relating to an organelle.
- The research focused on organellar DNA.
- Organelle-specific (compound adjective): Targeting or located within a particular organelle.
- They developed an organelle-specific fluorescent dye.
- Cell structure
- Cellular component
- Cytoplasmic structure
The word "organelle" has a single, specific meaning in modern biological science. There are no common alternative definitions.
There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs using the word "organelle" due to its highly technical nature.
A student points to the nucleus, an organelle, in a diagram of an animal cell.
- a specialized part of a cell; analogous to an organ
- the first organelle to be identified was the nucleus