beta cell

noun

: any of the insulin-secreting pancreatic cells in the islets of Langerhans

Examples of beta cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eating chia seeds may improve the function of beta cells, which are specialized cells found in the pancreas that produce and secrete insulin.15 7. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 25 Nov. 2025

This is a sign that there is an immune attack happening against the beta cells, indicating type 1 diabetes. —Dr. Brittany Bruggeman, Boston Herald, 16 Nov. 2025

For transplants, scientists are pursuing multiple sources of beta cells, including ones from a deceased donor and ones grown from other cells in a patient’s own body. —Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025

The team discovered that taking a daily pill of baricitinib for 48 weeks preserved insulin-producing beta cell function, decreased blood glucose fluctuations and reduced the need for insulin in people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for beta cell

• bagatelle
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele
• commonweal
• decibel
• demoiselle
• fontanelle
• infidel
• isabel

Medical Definition

beta cell

noun

: any of various secretory cells distinguished by their basophilic staining characters: as

a

: a pituitary basophil

b

: an insulin-secreting cell of the islets of Langerhans compare alpha cell