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brown fat
noun
: a mammalian heat-producing tissue occurring especially in human fetuses and newborn infants and in hibernating animals
called also brown adipose tissue
Examples of brown fat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Less brown fat may help explain why some people with obesity can have lower body temperatures than those who aren’t obese, and why there has been a decline in average body temperature in the U.S. since the industrial revolution.
—Christopher Damman, Discover Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
Please Mind the Microbiome Gap A healthy microbiome produces a full range of beneficial metabolites that support calorie-burning brown fat, muscle endurance and metabolic health.
—Christopher Damman, Discover Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
It has been found to affect the body's metabolism, promoting fat browning (conversion of white fat cells into brown fat cells) and enhancing thermogenesis (the production of heat by the body).
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Researchers found that lower temperatures prompted the body to convert more white adipose tissue into disposable brown fat for heat, according to a 2012 study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brown fat
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brown fat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1902, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near brown fat
Cite this Entry
“Brown fat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown%20fat. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
brown fat
noun
: a mammalian heat-producing tissue occurring especially in human fetuses and newborn infants and in hibernating animals
called also brown adipose tissue
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