lipid

Also lip·ide

[lip-id, lahy-pid]

noun

Biochemistry.

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

/ 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

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lipid¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of lipid¹

C20: from French lipide, from Greek lipos fat

Example Sentences

Inside each adipocyte, fat is packed into lipid droplets that can be tapped when fuel is needed -- for example, during the hours between meals.

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The mice stayed lean, and their lipid profiles remained unchanged, indicating that traditional risk factors such as obesity or high cholesterol did not explain the heightened arterial damage.

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The lipid molecules also help determine whether the microbes are alive or remnants from ancient communities.

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Still, the findings reveal that EPA can alter blood lipid composition and influence early risk mechanisms for atherosclerosis even in healthy people.

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High lipid levels in the blood, a condition known as hyperlipidemia, often accompany obesity.

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