beta cell

noun

Definition of beta cell

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

Examples of beta cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Environmental and genetic factors can lead to the destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. — Jaclyn London, Ms, Rd, Cdn, Good Housekeeping, "Everything You Need to Know About a Diabetic Diet," 23 Aug. 2017 Even a small amount of beta cell mass makes a major impact on function. — NBC News, "Cheap blood pressure drug might slow diabetes," 9 July 2018 And in Type 2, the most common category of diabetes accounting for 90-95 percent of all cases, the body’s cells either stop responding to insulin or the beta cells can’t produce enough of the hormone. — Fiza Pirani, ajc, "These insulin pills could replace daily injections for diabetics, study says," 28 June 2018 Type 1 diabetics lose their beta cells through a destructive immune reaction. — Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "New insulin-making cells can be made in the body, study suggests," 14 June 2018 View Sample Sign Up Now Currently, diabetes is classified based mainly on age of diagnosis (younger people often have type 1) and on the presence or absence of antibodies that attack beta cells, which release insulin. — Amanda Macmillan, Time, "Researchers Identify Five Different Types of Diabetes, Not Just Type 1 and Type 2," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'beta cell.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about beta cell

Dictionary Entries near beta cell

Statistics for beta cell

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for beta cell

The first known use of beta cell was in 1915

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for beta cell

beta cell

noun

Medical Definition of beta cell

: 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

Comments on beta cell

What made you want to look up beta cell? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

disparage

to speak slightingly about or to degrade

Test Your Vocabulary

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Which is a synonym of fuliginous?

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ