Meaning & use

organelle

noun·Academic

A specialized structure within a cell that performs a specific function, such as a mitochondrion.

See it in a sentence

The mitochondrion is an organelle that converts nutrients into usable energy for the cell.

Under the microscope, students identified several organelles inside the plant cell, including the chloroplast.

A note on using this word

Organelle refers only to structures inside a cell; the cell membrane and cell wall are usually discussed separately.

Words with a similar meaning

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