Nucleolus
/njuːˈkliː.ə.ləs/noun
A small dense structure inside the cell nucleus where ribosomes begin to be assembled.
Did you know?Nucleolus comes from Latin *nucleus* plus the diminutive *-olus*, so its name is a double layer of “smallness” for one of the cell’s most essential hidden factories.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
nucleus
“a kernel, inner core, or little nut”
Late Latin
Latin
nucleolus
“a small kernel or little nucleus”
19th Century
English
nucleolus
“the dense rounded body within the cell nucleus”
Modern English
English
nucleolus
“the organelle where ribosomal RNA is made and ribosome assembly begins”