HeLa cell

noun

An immortal cell line that can divide an unlimited number of times in a laboratory cell culture plate, as long as fundamental cell survival conditions are met.

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Meanings

nounHeLa cell (plural HeLa cells)

plural HeLa cells

  1. biologyAn immortal cell line that can divide an unlimited number of times in a laboratory cell culture plate, as long as fundamental cell survival conditions are met.

Origin

Named after the American cancer patient Henrietta Lacks.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

HeLa cell. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/HeLa%20cell

MLA

“HeLa cell.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/HeLa%20cell. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “HeLa cell,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/HeLa%20cell.

Source: HeLa cell on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.