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, phospholipids, cerebrosides, and related and derived compounds

lipidic

li-ˈpi-dik 

adjective

Examples of lipid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All of the adults in the study had elevated LDL cholesterol levels despite being on a stable course of lipid-lowering therapy like statins for 30 days or more. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025

If the results from the next phase of studies are as encouraging, a gene-editing therapy for controlling lipids may not be far off. —Alice Park, Time, 8 Nov. 2025

Lilly‘s drug also showed improvement across factors like waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profiles, glycemic control, and markers of inflammation. —Reuters, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025

Composed of elements like proteins, fatty lipids, and sugars, the yeast biomass remaining after alcohol and drug production is typically classified as a byproduct or waste. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 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