adipose

American  

[ad-uh-pohs] / ˈæd əˌpoʊs /

adjective

1. fatty; consisting of, resembling, or relating to fat.

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noun

1. animal fat stored in the fatty tissue of the body.

adipose British  

/ -ˌpəʊz, ˈædɪˌpəʊs /

adjective

1. of, resembling, or containing fat; fatty

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noun

1. animal fat

adipose Scientific  

/ ăd′ə-pōs′ /

1. Relating to or consisting of animal fat.

2. ◆ Adipose tissue is a type of connective tissue consisting of adipose cells, which are specialized to produce and store large fat globules. These globules are composed mainly of glycerol esters of oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Adipose tissue is the main reservoir of fat in animals.

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Other Word Forms

• adiposeness
  noun
• adiposis
  noun
• adiposity
  noun
• hyperadipose
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of adipose

First recorded in 1735–45; from Latin adip-, stem of adeps “fat, lard” + -ose ¹

Example Sentences

Scientists are increasingly recognizing that adipose tissue acts as a complex endocrine organ that communicates with the brain, liver, muscles, and immune system through hormones and signaling molecules.

From Science Daily • May 8, 2026

Male obesity has been linked to low sperm count, via bifold mechanisms of increased conversion of testosterone to estrogen by adipose cells and by scrotal hyperthermia.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

In fact, says Coviello, under certain still unknown conditions or at a still-to-be-determined point, healthy adipose tissue acquires pathological qualities.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2025

To take the research further, the team plans to leverage single-cell technology to investigate more tissues such as muscle and adipose.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024

It was rather like the adipose fin of a fish, but gaudy.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White