: one of the transparent sheets of celluloid on which objects or sections of objects are drawn or painted in the making of animated cartoons for motion pictures and television
II. abbreviation
Usage: usually capitalized
Celsius
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/sel/, n.
a transparent celluloid sheet on which a character, scene, etc., is drawn or painted and which constitutes one frame in the filming of an animated cartoon: may be overlapped for change of background or foreground.
Also, cell.
[by shortening of CELLULOID]
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cel «sehl», noun.
a sheet of transparent celluloid on which the drawings of animated cartoons are traced or painted.
╂[< cel(luloid)]
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[sel]n. a transparent sheet of celluloid or similar film material that can be drawn on, used in the production of cartoons
Origin:
mid 20th cent.: abbreviation of celluloid
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celvar. cell n.3
Useful english dictionary. 2012.