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

PEDS1 is needed to produce plasmalogens, a specific type of membrane phospholipid that is especially abundant in myelin, the fatty coating that insulates nerve fibers.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 11, 2026

To increase biocompatibility, the R6F was enclosed within phospholipid nanoparticles.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 8, 2024

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

From Science Daily ● Dec. 21, 2023

Figure 3.20 A phospholipid is a molecule with two fatty acids and a modified phosphate group attached to a glycerol backbone.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

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

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022