noun
vacuole
VAK-yoo-ohl
Vacuole (noun) means a large sac inside a cell, enclosed by a membrane and sitting in the cytoplasm. Example: “Under the microscope, the plant cell showed one large vacuole.”
noun
1
A large sac inside a cell, enclosed by a membrane and sitting in the cytoplasm.
"Under the microscope, the plant cell showed one large vacuole."
"The student drew the vacuole as a clear bubble inside the cell."
"A vacuole is surrounded by a membrane, like other compartments in the cell."
How to use vacuole
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large sac inside a cell, wrapped in its own membrane.
When to use it
It is a technical term used in cytology and biology.
Memory tip
The name comes from the Latin word for empty, but a vacuole is a membrane-bound sac, not an empty gap.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
plant cell vacuole
large central vacuole
contractile vacuole
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like vacuole.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Under the microscope, the plant cell showed one large _____.
Etymology
The word came into English from French, where it was vacuole. The French form came from Medieval Latin vacuola, a diminutive of the Latin word vacuus, meaning empty.
Rhymes for vacuole
See all rhymes for vacuole →Frequently asked questions
What is a vacuole?
A vacuole is a large membrane-bound sac found in the cytoplasm of a cell.
Where does the word vacuole come from?
It comes from French, which took it from Medieval Latin vacuola. That word was a diminutive of the Latin vacuus, meaning empty.
What is the plural of vacuole?
The plural is vacuoles.
What is the meaning of vacuole?
"vacuole" (noun) means a large sac inside a cell, enclosed by a membrane and sitting in the cytoplasm.
