The usually irreversible process by which unspecialized cells acquire the specific structural and functional features characteristic of a tissue, organ, etc.; the state of having such specialized features.
Origin
Mid 19th century.
Definition of cell differentiation in US English:
cell differentiation
noun
The usually irreversible process by which unspecialized cells acquire the specific structural and functional features characteristic of a tissue, organ, etc.; the state of having such specialized features.