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

Your doctor may recommend medications to help with blood pressure, blood sugar, insulin resistance, lipid lowering and weight management. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025

Finally, the team also examined levels of hormones, lipids, and other molecules in the blood. —Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 19 Apr. 2025

Daily moisturizing and sunscreen Both dermatologists encourage moisturizing to help restore the skin’s lipid barrier and applying sunscreen daily to prevent the dark marks from intensifying. —Sierra Leone Starks, Allure, 18 Apr. 2025

The hexane dissolves the lipid components in the oil, then is evaporated off and recollected for later use. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025

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