lipid

American  

[lip-id, lahy-pid] / ˈlɪp ɪd, ˈlaɪ pɪd /

Also lipide

noun

Biochemistry.

• lipids
  plural

1. any of a group of organic compounds that are greasy to the touch, insoluble in water, and soluble in alcohol and ether: lipids comprise the fats and other esters with analogous properties and constitute, with proteins and carbohydrates, the chief structural components of living cells.

---

lipid British  

/ ˈlɪpɪd, ˈlaɪpɪd /

noun

1. Former name: lipoid.  biochem any of a large group of organic compounds that are esters of fatty acids ( simple lipids , such as fats and waxes) or closely related substances ( compound lipids , such as phospholipids): usually insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol and other organic solvents. They are important structural materials in living organisms

---

lipid Scientific  

/ lĭp′ĭd /

1. Any of a large group of organic compounds that are oily to the touch and insoluble in water. Lipids include fatty acids, oils, waxes, sterols, and triglycerides. They are a source of stored energy and are a component of cell membranes.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lipids
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lipid

First recorded in 1920–25; lip- + -id ³

Explanation

A lipid is a waxy or oily organic molecule that is insoluble in water. Certain vitamins, like A, D, E, and K, are lipids. Lipids are sometimes described as fat-soluble, rather than water-soluble. A more precise way to think of them is "soluble in organic solvents." The same way a dollop of oil floats on a bowl of water, or a greasy pan only gets clean once you've added dish soap to the water, a lipid keeps itself separate from water. This gives it the ability to store energy and provide insulation. Lipid is derived from the Greek lipos, "fat or grease."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lipid lipids

Unlike fat stored under the skin, lipid droplets that accumulate within muscle cells can interfere with normal muscle function and make it harder for the body to efficiently use glucose and fatty acids.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 5, 2026

"It is not simply blocking lipid synthesis. It is also activating energy expenditure pathways that may help the body handle excess lipid and glucose more effectively."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

Within the core, researchers examined fossilized microplankton known as dinocysts, along with organic lipid biomarkers.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026

The results suggest that mitochondrial aging is driven not only by accumulated genetic damage but also by age-related changes in lipid production.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 11, 2026

Before Citra left home, Mrs. Yeltner had reset her lipid point to svelte.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

All the same, the fatty acid profile of tallow does overlap with some lipids found in human skin and sebum, including palmitic, stearic and oleic acids.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

“Essential oils are natural and can be irritating allergens. And ‘chemical-free skincare’ is scientifically impossible; water is a chemical, lipids are chemicals, and vitamins are chemicals.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

They found major changes in gene activity that prevented fat cells from properly processing and storing lipids.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

The soft tissue and lipids inside that many carcasses "translates to roughly 6.7 million tonnes of sequestered carbon," Xiaotong Peng said.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

Whatever its chemical constituents, the transforming principle was not composed of sugars, lipids, or proteins.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee