I. ˈselyəˌlōs noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from cellule living cell (from New Latin cellula ) + -ose — more at cellular
1. : any of several fibrous substances constituting the chief part of the cell walls of plants and of many fibrous products (as paper, cotton, linen) — see hemicellulose , lignin , micelle
2.
a. : a complex polymeric carbohydrate (C 6 H 10 O 5 ) x having the same percentage composition as starch and also yielding only glucose on complete hydrolysis by acid but consisting of a long chain of beta-glucosidic residues linked through the 1,4-positions
b. : the portion of a cellulosic material that does not dissolve in a 17.5 to 18 percent sodium hydroxide solution and constitutes the most abundant form of cellulose — called also alpha cellulose
c. : the portion of a cellulosic material that dissolves in an alkaline solution and is precipitated on acidification — called also beta cellulose
d. : the portion of a cellulosic material that dissolves in an alkaline solution and is not precipitated on acidification — called also gamma cellulose
e. : the white fibers obtained from vegetable matter (as wood or cotton linters) by purification (as by treatment with acid sulfite or dilute alkali) that usually consist chiefly of alpha cellulose and are used especially in making regenerated cellulose products (as rayon and cellophane) and cellulose derivatives (as cellulose esters and cellulose ethers) — called also chemical cellulose
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to coat or treat with some cellulose preparation (as with cellulose acetate)
III. adjective
: containing or made from cellulose or a derivative of cellulose
cellulose plastic
cellulose sponge
cellulose tape