[ 'sɛljʊləʊz , -s ]
■ noun
1》 an insoluble substance which is a polysaccharide derived from glucose and is the main constituent of plant cell walls and of vegetable fibres such as cotton.
2》 paint or lacquer consisting principally of ~ acetate or nitrate in solution.
Derivatives
cellulosic adjective
Origin
C19: from Fr., from cellule ‘small cell’ + -ose 2 .