cell-killing
|cell-kill-ing|
/ˈsɛlˌkɪlɪŋ/
causing cell death
Etymology
'cell-killing' is a compound formed from 'cell' and 'kill'. 'cell' originates from Latin 'cella' (via Old French/Middle English) meaning 'small room' or 'chamber', and 'kill' originates from Old English 'cwellan' meaning 'to strike down, kill'.
'cell' changed from Latin 'cella' to Old French/Middle English forms like 'celle' and eventually the modern English 'cell'; 'kill' changed from Old English 'cwellan' through Middle English forms (e.g. 'kilen'/'killen') to the modern English 'kill'. The scientific compound 'cell killing' developed in modern scientific English and is often written as 'cell-killing' when used adjectivally.
Individually, 'cell' originally referred to a small room and 'kill' meant to cause death; combined in modern usage the compound came to mean 'causing death of cells' (i.e., cytotoxic action) in biological contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process or effect of killing cells (often used in biological or medical contexts).
Researchers measured the cell-killing of the drug in cultured cells.
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Adjective 1
causing the death of cells; cytotoxic.
The new compound showed strong cell-killing activity against tumor cells.
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Last updated: 2026/01/01 20:34