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Lipid - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Lipid : (noun)
1: an oily organic compound insoluble in water but soluble in
organic solvents; essential structural component of
living cells (along with proteins and carbohydrates)
[syn: lipide, lipoid]
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Lipid : Lipid: Another word for "fat." (Please see the various meanings of carbohydrates .
Lipids are an important part of living cells. Together with carbohydrates and proteins , lipids are the main constituents of plant and animal cells.
triglycerides are lipids. Lipids are easily stored in the body. They serve as a source of fuel and are an important constituent of the structure of cells.
Lipids include fatty acids, neutral fats, waxes and steroids (like lipoproteins , glycolipids and phospholipids.
Etymology: Whereas the everyday term "fat" comes from the Old English (from "faett" meaning crammed or adorned), the more scientific term "lipid" comes from the Greek "lipos" which referred
to animal fat or vegetable oil. The derivation of a biomedical term from another tongue such as Greek, Latin or French lends it a certain "je ne sais quoi" (something that cannot be easily expressed),
a touch of continental class.
Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)
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