bicellular
|bi-cel-lu-lar|
🇺🇸
/baɪˈsɛljələr/
🇬🇧
/baɪˈsɛljʊlə/
two-celled
Etymology
'bicellular' originates from Latin elements: the prefix 'bi-' (from Latin 'bi-' meaning 'two') combined with 'cellular' derived from Latin 'cellula' meaning 'small room' or 'small cell'.
'cellula' (Latin, diminutive of 'cella') gave rise to Late Latin and Medieval Latin forms, then to English 'cell' and the adjective 'cellular'; the modern scientific compound 'bicellular' was formed in English by combining the prefix 'bi-' with 'cellular'.
Initially the parts meant 'two' and 'small room/cell'; over time the compound came to mean specifically 'consisting of two cells' in biological and technical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
composed of or consisting of two cells (used in biology to describe organisms, spores, pollen, etc.).
Some algae are bicellular during part of their life cycle.
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Adjective 2
having two compartments or chambers; divided into two cells (used more generally for structures or devices).
The laboratory used a bicellular container to keep the reactions separate.
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Last updated: 2025/12/01 21:33