/se
ləbre
I
təri, [AM
] se
l
I
brətɔːri/ ADJ
[usu ADJ
n] A
celebratory
meal, drink, or other activity takes place to celebrate something such as a birthday, anniversary, or victory. □
That night she, Nicholson and the crew had a celebratory dinner.
ce|leb|rity
◆◇◇ /s
I
le
br
I
ti/ (celebrities
)
1
N‑COUNT
A
celebrity
is someone who is famous, especially in areas of entertainment such as films, music, writing, or sport. □
He signed his first contract with Universal, changed his name and became a celebrity almost overnight.
□
…a host of celebrities.
2
N‑UNCOUNT
If a person or thing achieves
celebrity
, they become famous, especially in areas of entertainment such as films, music, writing, or sport. □
Joanna has finally made it to the first rank of celebrity after 25 years as an actress.
cel|ery
/se
ləri/ N‑UNCOUNT
Celery
is a vegetable with long pale green stalks. It is eaten raw in salads. □
…a stick of celery.
ce|les|tial
/s
I
le
stiəl/ ADJ
Celestial
is used to describe things relating to heaven or to the sky. [LITERARY
] □
Gravity governs the motions of celestial bodies.
celi|ba|cy
/se
l
I
bəsi/ N‑UNCOUNT
Celibacy
is the state of being celibate.
celi|bate
/se
l
I
bət/ (celibates
)
1
ADJ
Someone who is
celibate
does not marry or have sex, because of their religious beliefs. □
The Pope bluntly told the world's priests yesterday to stay celibate.
● N‑COUNT
A
celibate
is someone who is celibate.
2
ADJ
[usu v-link ADJ
] Someone who is
celibate
does not have sex during a particular period of their life. □
I was celibate for two years.
cell
◆◆◇ /se
l/ (cells
)
1
N‑COUNT
A
cell
is the smallest part of an animal or plant that is able to function independently. Every animal or plant is made up of millions of cells. □
Those cells divide and give many other different types of cells.
□
…blood cells.
□
Soap destroys the cell walls of bacteria.
2
N‑COUNT
A
cell
is a small room in which a prisoner is locked. A
cell
is also a small room in which a monk or nun lives.
3
N‑COUNT
[usu n N
] You can refer to a small group of people within a larger organization as a
cell
.
COLLOCATIONS
cell
NOUN
1
noun + cell
: blood, brain, fat, nerve, skin; cancer
adjective + cell
: abnormal, cancerous, dead
2
noun + cell
: jail, prison
cel|lar
/se
lə
r
/ (cellars
)
1
N‑COUNT
A
cellar
is a room underneath a building, which is often used for storing things in. □
The box of papers had been stored in a cellar at the family home.
2
N‑COUNT
[usu sing] A person's or restaurant's
cellar
is the collection of different wines that they have. □
…the restaurant's extensive wine cellar.
cel|list
/tʃe
l
I
st/ (cellists
) N‑COUNT
A
cellist
is someone who plays the cello.
cell|mate
/se
lme
I
t/ (cellmates
) also
cell-mate
N‑COUNT
[usu with poss] In a prison, someone's
cellmate
is the person they share their cell with.
cel|lo
/tʃe
loʊ/ (cellos
) N‑VAR
A
cello
is a musical instrument with four strings that looks like a large violin. You play the cello with a bow while sitting down and holding it upright between your legs.
cel|lo|phane
/se
ləfe
I
n/ N‑UNCOUNT
Cellophane
is a thin, transparent material that is used to wrap things. [TRADEMARK
] □
She tore off the cellophane, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.
□
…a cellophane wrapper.
cell|phone
/se
lfoʊn/ (cellphones
) also
cell-phone
N‑COUNT
A
cell phone
is a type of telephone which does not need wires to connect it to a telephone system. [mainly AM
]
in BRIT, use mobile phone
cel|lu|lar
/se
ljʊlə
r
/ ADJ
[usu ADJ
n]
Cellular
means relating to the cells of animals or plants. □
Many toxic effects can be studied at the cellular level.
ce
l|lu|lar pho
ne
(
cellular phones
) N‑COUNT
A
cellular phone
is the same as a
cellphone
. [mainly AM
]
in BRIT, use mobile phone