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Glite Dictionary
cell-free

cell-free

1 5.1
Not having any tiny living parts from plants or animals
  • adjective
  • /sɛl-friː/
  • Specialized
translation icon : libre de células
  • Extraction from the pad typically yields 1-1.5 ml of cell-free fluid.
  • cell-free DNA

Examples

  • Furthermore, in a cell-free system, it was demonstrated that incubation of recombinant C-beclin with mitochondria leads to a release of pro-apoptotic factors such as cytochrome C 28.

    Academic text (2018)

  • Beclin 1 has also previously been shown to be cleaved by caspases in a cell-free system and in cell lines in vitro 28, 30.

    Academic text (2018)

  • The researchers developed a cell-free solution that could be used for testing without the need for living cells.

  • In the lab, we successfully produced proteins in a cell-free environment, allowing for simplified analysis.

  • Many diagnostic tests use cell-free technology to detect diseases without involving live cells.

Synonyms

sterile
vscell-free
  • Specialized
37 4.4

Completely free from germs

is about absence of any living cells not only microbes
noncellular
vscell-free
  • Specialized
7.9

Not made of tiny living parts called cells

refers specifically to absence of living cells rather than structure
germfree
vscell-free
4.4

Free of tiny living things that cause disease

focuses on absence of all living cells rather than only harmful organisms

Antonyms

cellular
  • Specialized
62 4.8

Relating to the tiny living parts that make every animal or plant

Surface Forms

cell-free positive

Morphology

cell-free = cell + free (transparent) = cell + free

The meaning 'containing no living cells' is directly and predictably derived from 'cell' + 'free' (free of cells).

Etymology

Cell-free combines cell, a word that once meant a 'small room' and now means a tiny living unit, and free, which means 'without'. So cell-free means 'without cells', and it is used for a substance or environment that contains no living cells.