cholesterol

noun

cho·les·ter·ol | \kə-ˈles-tə-ˌrōl,

-ˌrȯl\

Definition of cholesterol

: a steroid alcohol C₂₇H₄₅OH that is present in animal cells and body fluids, regulates membrane fluidity, and functions as a precursor molecule in various metabolic pathways and as a constituent of LDL may cause atherosclerosis — compare bad cholesterol, good cholesterol

Examples of cholesterol in a Sentence

Did your doctor check your cholesterol?

Recent Examples on the Web

But in the early 1990s, research began turning up powerful links between artificial trans fats, cholesterol and heart disease. — Author: Caitlin Dewey, Anchorage Daily News, "Artificial trans fats, widely linked to heart disease, are officially banned," 19 June 2018 If bad, or LDL, cholesterol stays high, doctors prescribe the now-generic Zetia. — Damian Garde, STAT, "A tiny biotech’s plot to frustrate Regeneron and Sanofi runs into a safety problem," 2 May 2018 Nutrition information per serving: 557 calories; 337 calories from fat; 37 g fat (9 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 116 mg cholesterol; 231 mg sodium; 8 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 46 g protein. — Katie Workman, Detroit Free Press, "Recipe: Rich, beautiful salmon complemented by citrus," 31 Mar. 2018 Depending what participants choose, a Whole30 plan has potential to be high-fat and high-cholesterol, too. — Katie Parsons, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Whole30 diet is all the rage: What you need to know," 13 July 2018 Nutrition | Per serving: 391 calories (19 percent from fat), 8.3 g fat (1.6 g saturated, 3 g monounsaturated), 127 mg cholesterol, 45.9 g protein, 39 g carbohydrates, 7.7 g fiber, 577 mg sodium. — Linda Gassenheimer, sacbee, "Making a chicken mango salad? Soon you will get the tang of it," 10 July 2018 Any personal history of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, blood clots, autoimmune disorders, cancer or advanced age. — Philly.com, "Medical mystery: An unexpected - and ironic - cause of chest pain," 24 June 2018 In 1987, a study of diet and cholesterol-lowering drugs proved for the first time that regression was possible in humans. — Richard Klasco, New York Times, "Can Lifestyle Changes Remove Plaques in Your Arteries?," 18 May 2018 But studies gradually revealed that trans fats wreck cholesterol levels in the blood and drive up the risk of heart disease. — Mike Stobbe, chicagotribune.com, "UN health agency aims to wipe out trans fats worldwide," 14 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cholesterol.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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cholesterol level

high cholesterol

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Last Updated

21 Sep 2018

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Time Traveler for cholesterol

The first known use of cholesterol was in 1894

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More Definitions for cholesterol

cholesterol

noun

English Language Learners Definition of cholesterol

: a substance that is found in the bodies of people and animals

See the full definition for cholesterol in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cholesterol

noun

cho·les·ter·ol | \kə-ˈles-tə-ˌrōl, -ˌrȯl

Medical Definition of cholesterol

: a steroid alcohol C₂₇H₄₅OH that is present in animal cells and body fluids, regulates membrane fluidity, functions as a precursor molecule in various metabolic pathways, and as a constituent of LDL may cause atherosclerosis Cholesterol is a lipid present in the cell membrane and subcellular organelles of tissues throughout the body. … In addition, cholesterol serves as the building block for all steroid hormones including cortisol, aldosterone, estrogen, and testosterone.— Sarah de Ferranti and David S. Ludwig, The New England Journal of Medicine, 25 Sept. 2008 … the drug reduces the production of cholesterol in the liver, decreasing the amount of artery-clogging cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream. — Newsweek, 8 Dec. 1986