brown fat

American  

noun

1. brownish-yellow adipose tissue in the upper back, or interscapular, region of many mammals, most conspicuously in hibernating species and human newborns, composed of numerous innervated fat cells that can produce heat during cold stress; thermogenic tissue.

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brown fat British  

noun

1. tissue composed of a type of fat cell that dissipates as heat most of the energy released when food is oxidized; brown adipose tissue. It is present in hibernating animals and human babies and is thought to be important in adult weight control

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Etymology

Origin of brown fat

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

The researchers also identified a receptor called PLXNA1 that binds to one of the SLIT3 fragments and helps regulate nerve development in brown fat.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

"Our research shows that just having brown fat isn't enough -- you need the right infrastructure within the tissue for heat production," said Shamsi.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

In contrast, brown fat is present in smaller amounts and plays a specialized role in controlling body temperature and supporting metabolic health.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

"By rapidly taking up and using fuel sources from our bodies and the food that we eat, brown fat acts like a metabolic sink that draws in nutrients and prevents them from being stored."

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

Who’s got a word to say agin the butcher when there’s a prime joint o’ juicy roast beef on the table, with the brown fat and rich gravy.

From King o' the Beach A Tropic Tale by Greene, J. B.