adipose cell
- noun
- /ˈædɪˌpoʊs sɛl/
- Specialized
:
célula adiposa
- An adipose cell stores energy in the form of fat.
Examples
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Excess calories can cause adipose cells to increase in size, leading to weight gain.
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The body stores surplus energy in adipose cells beneath the skin.
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Researchers studied how adipose cells react to different diets.
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Many adipose cells are found in the body's connective tissue.
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The body stores surplus energy in adipose cells beneath the skin.
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Excess calories can cause adipose cells to increase in size, leading to weight gain.
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Researchers studied how adipose cells react to different diets.
Synonyms
6
2.8
A small part of the body that stores fat for energy
1
8.0
A body cell that stores fat for energy and to keep you warm
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a cell specialized for the storage of fat' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'adipose' (fat-containing) with 'cell' (a microscopic living unit). This simple adjective + noun composition follows straightforward compositional rules and has clear parallels in other languages (e.g., Spanish 'célula adiposa'), so a learner who knows both constituents would infer the meaning.
Etymology
The name adipose cell comes from old words meaning 'fat' (adipose) and 'small room' (cell). Think of a tiny 'room' in the body that holds fat, so the name explains why an adipose cell stores fat.