multicellular

adjective

mul·​ti·​cel·​lu·​lar ˌməl-tē-ˈsel-yə-lər 

-ˌtī-

: having, made up of, or involving more than one and usually many cells especially of living matter

It is probable that with a few exceptions all the cells in a multicellular organism have the same genetic information encoded in the chains of nucleotide bases that make up their DNA.

—James E. Darnell, Jr.

A biofilm is a community of bacteria that use intercellular signaling to establish complex multicellular structures by coordinating gene expression and phenotypic changes.

—J. Christopher Post et al.

multicellularity

ˌməl-tē-ˌsel-yə-ˈler-ə-tē 

-ˌtī-

-ˈla-rə-

noun

When is an organism multicellular? A generic answer … is that multicellularity results when two or more neighboring cells adhere, interact, and physiologically communicate.

—Karl J. Niklas

Did you know?

Multicellular organisms are distinguished from the very primitive single-celled organisms—bacteria, algae, amoebas, etc. Even sponges, simple as they are, have specialized cell types such as digestive cells. In complex multicellular organisms, only the surface cells can exchange substances with the external environment, so the organisms have developed transport systems such as the circulatory system, in which the blood brings gases and nutrients to the cells and removes waste products from them.

Examples of multicellular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Known as the Sponge Capital of the World, the area’s major commodity is the super-absorbent multicellular organism that’s found on the ocean floor. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 5 July 2024

All complex multicellular organisms have evolved numerous ways to maintain homeostasis—to preserve a steady state of physical and chemical conditions essential to their continued existence. —Ferris Jabr, The Atlantic, 25 June 2024

Life How evolution shifts from unicellular to multicellular life When facing a predator, single cells sometimes unite to defend themselves, paving the way for more complex multicellular life forms to evolve. —Big Think, 24 June 2024

Complex multicellular organisms have radiated into many different species. —Quanta Magazine, 2 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

multicellular

adjective

mul·​ti·​cel·​lu·​lar

ˌməl-ti-ˈsel-yə-lər,

-ˌtī-

: having or consisting of many cells

multicellularity

-ˌsel-yə-ˈlar-ət-ē

noun

Medical Definition

multicellular

adjective

mul·​ti·​cel·​lu·​lar -ˈsel-yə-lər 

: having or consisting of many cells

multicellularity

-ˌsel-yə-ˈlar-ət-ē 

noun

plural multicellularities