lipid

noun

lip·​id ˈli-pəd 

variants or less commonly lipide

ˈli-ˌpīd 

: any of various substances that are soluble in nonpolar organic solvents (such as chloroform and ether), that are usually insoluble in water, that with proteins and carbohydrates constitute the principal structural components of living cells, and that include fats, waxes, phosphatides, cerebrosides, and related and derived compounds

lipidic

li-ˈpi-dik 

adjective

Examples of lipid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The proprietary ingredient—a mix of age-defying vitamins, lipids, and peptides—has legions of celebrity fans. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2024

Meet free radicals: unstable oxygen molecules—generated by exposure to external factors like environmental pollution and UV rays—that damage cellular structures like DNA, lipids, and proteins. —Abby Dupes, StyleCaster, 20 Sep. 2024

These vesicles, which carry bioactive cargo like lipids, growth factors, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids, are typically paired with in-office RF micro-needling and laser treatments. —Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024

Skin, like most mammalian tissue, is highly opaque because its mix of water and densely packed lipids, proteins and other essential molecules scatters light in all different directions. —Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 5 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lipid

noun

lip·​id ˈlip-əd 

: any of various substances (as fats and waxes) that with proteins and carbohydrates make up the principal structural parts of living cells

Medical Definition

lipid

noun

lip·​id ˈlip-əd 

variants also lipide

-ˌīd 

: any of various substances that are soluble in nonpolar organic solvents (as chloroform and ether), that with proteins and carbohydrates constitute the principal structural components of living cells, and that include fats, waxes, phospholipids, cerebrosides, and related and derived compounds