cell suicide

noun

variants or less commonly cellular suicide

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Blebs signal cell suicide; when stressed cells start chopping up their own proteins, their membranes distend. Laura Mallonee, Wired, 19 May 2020 Cells use a variety of ways to eliminate their rivals, from kicking them out of a tissue to inducing cell suicide or even engulfing them and cannibalizing their components. Kendall Powell, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2020 Perhaps the mechanism that drives cell suicide will evolve a more sophisticated function. Quanta Magazine, 3 Nov. 2015

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

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cell suicide was in 1980

Dictionary Entries Near cell suicide

Cite this Entry

“Cell suicide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cell%20suicide. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

Medical Definition

cell suicide

noun
variants also cellular suicide
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