Main Entry: lip·id

Pronunciation: \ˈli-pəd\

Variant(s): also lip·ide \-ˌpīd\

Function: noun

Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary

Date: 1912

: any of various substances that are soluble in nonpolar organic solvents (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

— li·pid·ic \li-ˈpi-dik\ adjective