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

That means finding people in the early stages of disease, when autoantibodies show that the immune system has begun attacking beta cells but blood sugar levels are not yet high. —Anna McKie, Wired News, 7 May 2026

Specifically, its insulin-producing beta cells that help control blood sugar are progressively destroyed. —Angelica P. Ahrens, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026

In Type 2, beta cell dysfunction has multiple, complex causes, including weight gain, lifestyle changes and lack of exercise. —Charles Trepany, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2026

The study, funded by a combination of grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and private donors, sought to explore how GLP-1 drugs (short for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) can make pancreatic beta cells more viable and stress-resistant. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for beta cell

• bagatelle
• calomel
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele
• commonweal
• coronel
• decibel
• demoiselle
• fontanelle

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