phospholipid

American  

[fos-foh-lip-id] / ˌfɒs foʊˈlɪp ɪd /

noun

Biochemistry.

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

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phospholipid British  

/ ˌfɒsfəˈlɪpɪd /

noun

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

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phospholipid Scientific  

/ fŏs′fō-lĭp′ĭd /

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of phospholipid

First recorded in 1925–30; phospho- + lipid

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phospholipid

Their preclinical research, published December 22 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that replacing a missing phospholipid in the bloodstream could help restore normal brain blood flow and ease dementia-related symptoms.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 25, 2025

Their analysis involved comparing the major component composition, major and trace mineral composition, protein composition, fatty acid composition, phospholipid composition microstructural properties, color analysis, and volatile component analysis of the different whole milk powder samples.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 27, 2024

These channels facilitate water transportation across cells more rapidly than diffusion through the membrane phospholipid bilayer.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 21, 2023

Because both gases are small, nonpolar molecules, they freely travel across the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma cell membrane.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Peripheral proteins are found on the exterior or interior surfaces of membranes, attached either to integral proteins or to phospholipid molecules.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 2013