1. A single electric energy-producing element in a battery. A cell is a device containing an electrolyte and metal electrodes. A chemical reaction between the electrolyte and the electrodes creates electrical energy. Technically, a cell contains two half-cells, which may use the same electrolyte in different concentrations or different electrolytes. Each half-cell has one electrode. The half-cells are separated by a “salt bridge,” usually paper soaked in a salt compound, such as potassium nitrate. Electrons flow from one half-cell to the other, creating a difference charge.

There are two types of cells:

Primary cells — used in primary batteries. In these cells, the chemical reaction cannot be reversed, so once the chemical reaction ends, the cell is exhausted.

Secondary cells — used in secondary, or rechargeable, batteries. In these cells, the chemical reaction can be reversed by applying electrical energy to the cell.

2. A storage slot in a software program, often a virtual drum instrument or loop-based DAW, that can hold a sample, an audio loop or phrase, or a MIDI loop or phrase.