terrorist cell
15
6.0
- noun
- /ˈtɛrərist sɛl/
- NSFW
:
célula terrorista
- A US consulate and a CIA annex less than a mile away are attacked by local terrorist cells.
- terrorist cell and organization
Let's let's lay the land for people who don't know the what the IRA or think that the IRA is like the terrorist cell in in Ireland.
- Let's let's lay the land for people who don't know the what the IRA or think that the IRA is like the terrorist cell in in Ireland.
Examples
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Among the nine were four convicted members of various terrorist cells, all of whom had committed acts of violence.
Fiction book (2002) -
But the FBI was alerted that there was a possible link to a terrorist cell located out of Nevada.
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We're to take down this domestic terrorist cell.
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Is there a terrorist cell operating in Brooklyn?
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Is there a terrorist cell operating in the city that we're unaware of?
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I'm not sure if you have seen or heard about this, but Israel captured two terrorist cell groups!
Blog text (17) -
CIA human intel has just learned that the heads of three terrorist cells are about to meet in 24 minutes.
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Law enforcement agencies have done a great service to the Muslim community by busting this terrorist cell.
Blog text (24) -
An international terrorist cell went after Swedish artist Lars Vilks.
Blog text (1) -
The authorities dismantled a dangerous terrorist cell responsible for several attacks.
Synonyms
123
7.1
A small secret group that works inside a larger organization, often for political aims
6
8.9
A secret group of people who stay inactive until told to attack or spy
A small secret group of people who plan or use political violence
A small secret group that plans and carries out attacks for a terrorist group
A hidden group of people who stay inactive until they get orders to do illegal or violent acts
How Organized
- NSFW
48
5.3
- NSFW
57
4.9
- NSFW
15
6.0
- Literature
9
7.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly compositional: combining 'terrorist' (politically violent actor) with 'cell' (a small clandestine group) yields the meaning 'a small covert group of terrorists.' This noun–noun formation follows straightforward semantic composition and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer its meaning.
Etymology
Terrorist cell uses cell from the old meaning of a very small room or unit where people meet in private. People began to call tiny, secret groups a 'cell', so terrorist cell means 'a small, secret group' of terrorists.