phospholipid

[fos-foh-lip-id]

noun Biochemistry.

any of a group of fatty compounds, as lecithin, composed of phosphoric esters, and occurring in living cells.

Origin of phospholipid

First recorded in 1925–30; phospho- + lipid

Also called phosphatide, phos·pho·lip·ide

[fos-foh-lip-ahyd] /ˌfɒs foʊˈlɪp aɪd/, phos·pho·lip·in

[fos-foh-lip-in] /ˌfɒs foʊˈlɪp ɪn/.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for phospholipid

phospholipid

noun

any of a group of compounds composed of fatty acids, phosphoric acid, and a nitrogenous base: important constituents of all membranesAlso called: phosphatide

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

phospholipid in Medicine

phospholipid

[fŏs′fō-lĭp′ĭd]

Any of various phosphorous-containing lipids that are composed mainly of fatty acids, a phosphate group, and a simple organic molecule.phosphatide

phospholipid in Science

phospholipid

[fŏs′fō-lĭp′ĭd]

Any of various phosphorus-containing lipids, such as lecithin, that are composed mainly of fatty acids, a phosphate group, and a simple organic molecule such as glycerol. Phospholipids are the main lipids in cell membranes.