3 VERB When priests celebrate Holy Communion or Mass, they officially perform the actions and ceremonies that are involved. □ [V n] The Pope will celebrate Mass in Westminster Cathedral.
cel|ebrat|ed /se l I bre I t I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A celebrated person or thing is famous and much admired. □ He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.
cel|ebra|tion ◆◇◇ /se l I bre I ʃ ə n/ (celebrations )
1 N‑COUNT A celebration is a special enjoyable event that people organize because something pleasant has happened or because it is someone's birthday or anniversary. □ I can tell you, there was a celebration in our house that night. □ …his eightieth birthday celebrations.
2 N‑SING The celebration of something is praise and appreciation which is given to it. □ [+ of ] This was not a memorial service but a celebration of his life. SYNONYMS celebration NOUN 1
party: The couple met at a party.
festivity: There was a general air of festivity and abandon.
revelry: …New Year revelries.
jubilee: …Queen Victoria's jubilee. COLLOCATIONS celebration NOUN 1
noun + celebration : anniversary, birthday, centenary, wedding; goal, victory
adjective + celebration : joyous, wild; low-key
celebration + be + adjective : short-lived
verb + celebration : organize, plan; attend; spark, trigger
cel|ebra|tory /se ləbre I təri, [AM ] se l I brətɔːri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A celebratory meal, drink, or other activity takes place to celebrate something such as a birthday, anniversary, or victory. □ That night she, Nicholson and the crew had a celebratory dinner.
ce|leb|rity ◆◇◇ /s I le br I ti/ (celebrities )
1 N‑COUNT A celebrity is someone who is famous, especially in areas of entertainment such as films, music, writing, or sport. □ He signed his first contract with Universal, changed his name and became a celebrity almost overnight. □ …a host of celebrities.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If a person or thing achieves celebrity , they become famous, especially in areas of entertainment such as films, music, writing, or sport. □ Joanna has finally made it to the first rank of celebrity after 25 years as an actress.
cel|ery /se ləri/ N‑UNCOUNT Celery is a vegetable with long pale green stalks. It is eaten raw in salads. □ …a stick of celery.
ce|les|tial /s I le stiəl/ ADJ Celestial is used to describe things relating to heaven or to the sky. [LITERARY ] □ Gravity governs the motions of celestial bodies.
celi|ba|cy /se l I bəsi/ N‑UNCOUNT Celibacy is the state of being celibate.
celi|bate /se l I bət/ (celibates )
1 ADJ Someone who is celibate does not marry or have sex, because of their religious beliefs. □ The Pope bluntly told the world's priests yesterday to stay celibate. ● N‑COUNT A celibate is someone who is celibate.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is celibate does not have sex during a particular period of their life. □ I was celibate for two years.
cell ◆◆◇ /se l/ (cells )
1 N‑COUNT A cell is the smallest part of an animal or plant that is able to function independently. Every animal or plant is made up of millions of cells. □ Those cells divide and give many other different types of cells. □ …blood cells. □ Soap destroys the cell walls of bacteria.
2 N‑COUNT A cell is a small room in which a prisoner is locked. A cell is also a small room in which a monk or nun lives.
3 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] You can refer to a small group of people within a larger organization as a cell . COLLOCATIONS cell NOUN
1
noun + cell : blood, brain, fat, nerve, skin; cancer
adjective + cell : abnormal, cancerous, dead
2
noun + cell : jail, prison
cel|lar /se lə r / (cellars )
1 N‑COUNT A cellar is a room underneath a building, which is often used for storing things in. □ The box of papers had been stored in a cellar at the family home.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A person's or restaurant's cellar is the collection of different wines that they have. □ …the restaurant's extensive wine cellar.
cel|list /tʃe l I st/ (cellists ) N‑COUNT A cellist is someone who plays the cello.
cell|mate /se lme I t/ (cellmates ) also cell-mate N‑COUNT [usu with poss] In a prison, someone's cellmate is the person they share their cell with.
cel|lo /tʃe loʊ/ (cellos ) N‑VAR A cello is a musical instrument with four strings that looks like a large violin. You play the cello with a bow while sitting down and holding it upright between your legs.
cel|lo|phane /se ləfe I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Cellophane is a thin, transparent material that is used to wrap things. [TRADEMARK ] □ She tore off the cellophane, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. □ …a cellophane wrapper.
cell|phone /se lfoʊn/ (cellphones ) also cell-phone N‑COUNT A cell phone is a type of telephone which does not need wires to connect it to a telephone system. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, use mobile phone
cel|lu|lar /se ljʊlə r / ADJ [usu ADJ n] Cellular means relating to the cells of animals or plants. □ Many toxic effects can be studied at the cellular level.