Word Confusion: Cell versus Sell

Plural for the noun and
third person present verb: cells
Past tense or past participle: celled
Gerund or present participle: celling

Variant spelling for cel

Plural for the noun and third person present verb: sells
Past tense or past participle: sold
Gerund or present participle: selling

• Cubicle
• [Historical] A small monastery or nunnery dependent on a larger one
• A one-room dwelling occupied by a solitary person (such as a hermit)

[Biology] The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane

• An enclosed cavity in an organism
• A small compartment in a larger structure such as a honeycomb

Any of various small compartments or bounded areas forming part of a whole

A small group forming a nucleus of political activity, typically a secret, subversive one

[Physical Chemistry] A device containing electrodes immersed in an electrolyte, used for current-generation or electrolysis

• A unit in a device for converting chemical or solar energy into electricity

[Telecommunications] The local area covered by one of the short-range transmitters in a cellular telephone system

• [North American] Short for cellular phone

[Aeronautics] The gas container of a balloon

A region of the atmosphere in which air tends to circulate without flowing outward

[Entomology] One of the areas into which the wing of an insect is divided by the veins

[Botany] Locule

[Computer] A unit in a statistical array formed by the intersection of a column and a row

Verb, intransitive:
To live or share living in a cell

Verb, transitive:
To store in a honeycomb

[British] A disappointment, typically one arising from being deceived as to the merits of something

Verb, intransitive:
Be purchased in specified amounts or for a specified price

• [sell out] Sell all of one’s stock of something
• [sell out] Be all sold
• [sell through; of a product] Be purchased by a customer from a retail outlet
• [British; sell up] Sell all of one’s property, possessions, or assets
• [sell out] Abandon one’s principles for reasons of expedience

Verb, transitive:
Give or hand over (something) in exchange for money

• Have a stock of (something) available for sale
• [sell oneself] Have sex in exchange for money
• [sell someone out] Betray someone for one’s own benefit
• [Archaic] Offer (something) dishonorably for money or other reward

Persuade someone of the merits of

• Be the reason for (something) being bought
• Cause (someone) to become enthusiastic about

[Archaic] Trick or deceive (someone)

The suspect was in the police station’s holding cell overnight.

Late in the same century the site became a dependent cell of the Durham Benedictines.

The estate has an old hermit’s cell on the grounds.

Microscopic organisms typically consist of a single cell, which is either eukaryotic or prokaryotic.

Each cell contains a fluid called the cytoplasm, which is enclosed by a membrane.

The cells of the honeycomb were oozing with raw honey.

Cells contain the body’s hereditary material and can make copies of themselves.

The weapons may be used to arm terrorist cells.

A galvanic (voltaic) cell uses the energy released during a spontaneous redox reaction to generate electricity.

This quartz watch uses a button cell.

The cell site is the transmitter facility itself with the provided cell ranging from one to twenty miles in diameter.

I’ll just call him on his cell.

A cell sheet is initially placed and stably adhered on the wet, completely deflated balloon surface with a minor amount of culture medium and water surface tension.

There’s an active storm cell in the area.

The wings are strengthened by a number of longitudinal veins, which often have cross-connections that form closed cells in the membrane.

“Beets contain high levels of potassium, which regulates fluid balance in our bodies, as well as folate, a B vitamin that contributes to healthy cell growth and red blood cell formation” (Severson).

To format a cell in a spreadsheet, your cursor must have selected it.

Verb, intransitive:
The two prisoners had celled together for three years.

Verb, transitive:
Queens cell inefficiently in irregular and lump shapes.

The hexagonal structure of a honeycomb evolved as it uses the least material when individual bees are celling.

Actually, Hawaii’s a bit of a sell — not a patch on Corfu.

Verb, intransitive:
The album sold 6 million copies in the United States.

This magazine of yours won’t sell.

These antiques of the future sell for about $375.

They had nearly sold out of the initial run of 75,000 copies.

It was clear that the performances would not sell out.

He sold it through Craigslist.

Ernest sold up and retired.

The prime minister has come under fire for selling out to the United States.

Verb, transitive:
They had sold the car.

The family business had been sold off.

I was trying to sell him my butterfly collection.

The store sells hi-fis, TVs, videos, and other electrical goods.

If she was going to sell herself then it would be as well not to come too cheap.

The clansmen became tenants and the chiefs sold them out.

Do not your lawyers sell all their practice, as your priests their prayers?

He sold the idea of making a film about Tchaikovsky.

He just won’t sell himself.

What sells CDs to most people is convenience.

I’m just not sold on the idea.

What we want is to go out of here quiet, and talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town.