nucleolus

/nuˈkliələs/

Other forms: nucleoli

A nucleolus is the largest structure within the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell. It's the job of a nucleolus to make RNA and ribosomes.

In a eukaryote, a cell whose nucleus is contained within a membrane, the nucleolus plays a vital role. It's here that ribosomes, tiny cell machines that produce important proteins, are made. RNA — which works by taking the information in DNA and translating it into proteins — also comes from the nucleolus. Nucleolus basically means "smaller nucleus," from a Latin word meaning "little nut."

Definitions of nucleolus

1. noun

   a small round body of protein in a cell nucleus; such organelles contain RNA and are involved in protein synthesis
   synonyms: nucleole

   type of:

   cell organ, cell organelle, organelle

   a specialized part of a cell; analogous to an organ