triglyceride

American  

[trahy-glis-uh-rahyd, -er-id] / traɪˈglɪs əˌraɪd, -ər ɪd /

noun

Biochemistry, Chemistry.

• triglycerides
  plural

1. an ester obtained from glycerol by the esterification of three hydroxyl groups with fatty acids, naturally occurring in animal and vegetable tissues: an important energy source forming much of the fat stored by the body.

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triglyceride British  

/ traɪˈɡlɪsəˌraɪd /

noun

1. any ester of glycerol and one or more carboxylic acids, in which each glycerol molecule has combined with three carboxylic acid molecules. Most natural fats and oils are triglycerides

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triglyceride Scientific  

/ trī-glĭs′ə-rīd′ /

1. Any of a class of organic compounds that are esters consisting of three fatty acids joined to glycerol. The fatty acids may be the same or may be different. Triglycerides are the chief lipids constituting fats and oils and function to store chemical energy in plants and animals.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• triglycerides
  plural

Etymology

Origin of triglyceride

First recorded in 1855–60; tri- + glyceride

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

triglyceride triglycerides

Making healthy lifestyle choices — like exercising regularly, limiting alcohol intake and consuming a diet that’s high in fibers and healthy fats — can greatly reduce triglyceride levels.

From Salon ● Apr. 8, 2024

Maybe our man received a frightening blood pressure reading or a triglyceride audit that fell outside acceptable margins and has decided to take matters into his own hands.

From Slate ● Apr. 3, 2024

However, patients with type 1 diabetes have very little to gain from lowering the current guideline values for cardiometabolic risk factors such as BMI, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, or improved renal function.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 28, 2024

Some studies have found that very-low-carb diets can help with weight loss and improve certain markers of metabolic health, like blood sugar and triglyceride levels.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 27, 2023

Acetin Method.—This consists in converting the glycerol into its ester with acetic acid, the acetic triglyceride, or triacetin being formed.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by W. H. Simmons

A recent study found that a one-time Crispr-based therapy lowered LDL cholesterol and triglycerides by about 50%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

HSL plays a central role in this process by breaking down triglycerides into fatty acids that other organs can use for fuel.

From Science Daily ● May 8, 2026

These markers include glucose, fats called triglycerides, and the protein tryptophan.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 15, 2026

Testing for another protein, apolipoprotein B, can also be performed for those with high triglycerides, diabetes or other conditions, the guidelines say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026

What about lecithin and mono-, di-, and triglycerides?

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan