cholesterol

[ kuh-les-tuh-rohl, -rawl ]

/ kəˈlɛs təˌroʊl, -ˌrɔl /

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noun Biochemistry.

a sterol, C27H46O, that occurs in all animal tissues, especially in the brain, spinal cord, and adipose tissue, functioning chiefly as a protective agent in the skin and myelin sheaths of nerve cells, a detoxifier in the bloodstream, and as a precursor of many steroids: deposits of cholesterol form in certain pathological conditions, as gallstones and atherosclerotic plaques.

the commercial form of this compound, obtained from the spinal cord of cattle, used chiefly as an emulsifying agent in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and in the synthesis of vitamin D.

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Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

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Also cho·les·ter·in

[kuh-les-ter-in]. /kəˈlɛs tər ɪn/.

Origin of cholesterol

1890–95; chole- + Greek ster(eós) solid + -ol¹

Words nearby cholesterol

cholestatic jaundice, cholesteatoma, cholesteremia, cholesteric, cholesterin, cholesterol, cholesterolaemia, cholesterol embolism, cholesterolemia, cholesterolosis, cholesteroluria

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for cholesterol

I set aside a small amount of the sauce before adding the shrimp for my sister who is watching her cholesterol.
Six Recipes That Got Us Through Another Week|Eater Staff|March 19, 2021|Eater
Bile is in fact produced by the liver from cholesterol and then stored in the gallbladder.
Your liver does more than you give it credit for|By Marie-Pierre Hasne/The Conversation|March 17, 2021|Popular Science
Some may cause cancer, result in low infant birth weights, and increase cholesterol levels, among a host of other health issues, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
U.S. regulator finalizes rule banning banks from refusing loans to some business sectors||January 14, 2021|Washington Post
The promise of better cholesterol readings would never have motivated me to change my diet.
Salt: The dietary danger that’s easy to ignore|Karen Sandstrom|December 11, 2020|Washington Post

The other lipids, one of which is the familiar molecule cholesterol, are “helpers” that give structural integrity to the nanoparticles or stop them from clumping.
What are the ingredients of Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccine?|Konstantin Kakaes|December 9, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Or should you swear it off in the name of better cholesterol?
Bulletproof Coffee and the Case for Butter as a Health Food|DailyBurn|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What happens when someone with an eating disorder history is diagnosed with high cholesterol?
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At 96 percent water, cukes have no saturated fat or cholesterol, and are very high in vitamin K, vitamin B6 and iron.
10 Ways to Stay Hydrated (That Aren’t Water)|DailyBurn|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And at the end of the study there was no difference in the LDL-cholesterol levels between the two groups!
The AHA’s Absurd Saturated Fat Obsession|Dr. Barbara H. Roberts|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, half of the people who have cardiac events have “ideal” levels of LDL cholesterol.
The AHA’s Absurd Saturated Fat Obsession|Dr. Barbara H. Roberts|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cholesterol was a little below normal in the four cases examined.
Scurvy Past and Present|Alfred Fabian Hess
Cholesterol is frequently found in animal fats, and phytosterol is a very similar substance present in vegetable fats.
The Handbook of Soap Manufacture|W. H. Simmons
The cholesterol in linseed or fish oil, which of course may be present in the soap, also give this reaction.
Soap-Making Manual|E. G. Thomssen

British Dictionary definitions for cholesterol

cholesterol

/ (kəˈlɛstəˌrɒl) /

noun

a sterol found in all animal tissues, blood, bile, and animal fats: a precursor of other body steroids. A high level of cholesterol in the blood is implicated in some cases of atherosclerosis, leading to heart disease. Formula: C 27 H 45 OHFormer name: cholesterin (kəˈlɛstərɪn)

Word Origin for cholesterol

C19: from chole- + Greek stereos hard, solid, so called because first observed in gallstones

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for cholesterol

cholesterol

[ kə-lĕs′tə-rôl′, -rōl′ ]

n.

A white crystalline substance found in animal tissues and various foods, normally synthesized by the liver and important as a constituent of cell membranes and a precursor to steroid hormones. Its level in the bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of certain conditions, such as the development of atherosclerotic plaque and coronary artery disease.

Scientific definitions for cholesterol

cholesterol

[ kə-lĕs′tə-rôl′ ]

A sterol found widely in animal and plant tissues. It is a main component of blood plasma and cell membranes, and it is an important precursor of many steroid hormones (such as the estrogens, testosterone, and cortisol), vitamin D2, and bile acids. In vertebrates, cholesterol is manufactured by the liver or absorbed from food in the intestine. Higher than normal amounts of cholesterol in the blood are associated with higher risk for developing coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis. Chemical formula: C27H46O. See also high-density lipoprotein low-density lipoprotein.

Cultural definitions for cholesterol

cholesterol

[ (kuh-les-tuh-rawl, kuh-les-tuh-rohl) ]

A white soapy substance found in the tissues of the body and in certain foods, such as animal fats, oils, and egg yolks. Cholesterol has been linked to heart disease and atherosclerosis. (It collects on the walls of arteries and interferes with the flow of blood.) High levels of cholesterol in the blood are considered to be unhealthy. (See saturated fats, HDL, and LDL.)

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cholesterol

noun Biochemistry.

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Origin of cholesterol

Words nearby cholesterol

Example sentences from the Web for cholesterol

British Dictionary definitions for cholesterol

noun

Word Origin for cholesterol

Medical definitions for cholesterol

n.

Scientific definitions for cholesterol

Cultural definitions for cholesterol