cellulose

[ sel-yuh-lohs ]

noun

1. an inert carbohydrate, (C 6 H 10 O 5 ) n, the chief constituent of the cell walls of plants and of wood, cotton, hemp, paper, etc.

cellulose

/ -ˌləʊs; ˈsɛljʊˌləʊz /

noun

1. 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

cellulose

/ sĕl′yə-lōs′ /

1. 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.
2. See cellulose acetate

cellulose

1. 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 .

Derived Forms

• ˌcelluˈlosic, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• cel·lu·los·i·ty [sel-y, uh, -, los, -i-tee], noun
• semi·cellu·lose noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cellulose¹

1745–55; < New Latin cellul ( a ) live cell ( cellular ) + -ose ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of cellulose¹

C18: from French cellule cell (see cellule ) + -ose ²

Example Sentences

As the mold digests the proteins and starch within the fibrous pulp, it also breaks down the cellulose, turning what remains into a dish beloved by many across western Indonesia.

From Salon

"Snails eat paper because most contains cellulose from the wood pulp which they can digest and use for energy, and they also get calcium from paper and that's what they need to build their shells," he said.

From BBC

Wood is a miraculous substance: flexible and tough, its stringy but nutritious cellulose can make a great meal -- but only for those living things that can digest it and also get through the layer of lignin, a tough, armor-like substance that surrounds the cellulose like "wrap rage"-inducing packaging around your favorite treat.

From Science Daily

The process involves blending three main components -- carbon nanotubes, polyvinyl alcohol and carboxymethyl cellulose -- followed by freeze-drying.

From Science Daily

However, the two types of teabags made from a combination of cellulose and PLA broke down into smaller pieces, losing between 60% and 80% of their overall mass and with the PLA component remaining.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• glucose
• lactose
• starch
• sugar