Cellphones

/ˈsɛlfoʊnz/ noun

Definition

Portable wireless communication devices that connect to cellular networks. Mobile phones capable of making calls, sending messages, and often accessing internet services.

Etymology

Compound of 'cell' (from cellular network technology, referring to the hexagonal coverage areas) and 'phone' (from Greek 'phone' meaning voice or sound). First used in the 1980s as cellular telephone technology became commercially available.

Kelly Says

The term 'cell' in cellphone comes from the honeycomb-like pattern of coverage areas that cellular towers create - each 'cell' is a hexagonal zone of radio coverage. This biological metaphor is delightfully apt, as these communication networks do function much like interconnected living systems, constantly adapting and routing information.

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