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

Whole-Grain Barley People who ate a half-cup of whole barley regularly during a five-week period USDA study saw their cholesterol levels drop by nearly 10% compared to those who went without. — Leah Zerbe, Good Housekeeping, "The 11 Healthiest Whole Grains You Should Be Eating," 17 July 2018 The new guidelines urge physicians to do even more to personalize the decision as to whether a patient needs a cholesterol-lowering drug. — Betsy Mckay, WSJ, "New Guidelines for Treating High Cholesterol Take a Personal Approach," 10 Nov. 2018 But cholesterol and blood pressure in and of themselves don’t matter the most as health outcomes. — SELF, "What You Need to Know Before Trying Intermittent Fasting," 7 Nov. 2018 Nearly all of them lowered their blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and other health measures. — Mark Barna, Discover Magazine, "Not So Fast," 24 Sep. 2018 Fungi are hailed for their medical uses, having proved vital for antibiotics and for cholesterol-lowering statins, but even fungus fans admit there is a macabre element to some aspects of fungi life. — Gregory Katz, The Seattle Times, "Royal Botanic Garden seeks respect for world’s fungus," 11 Sep. 2018 Nutrition | Per serving: 565 calories (25 percent from fat), 16 g fat (2.4 g saturated, 6.8 g monounsaturated), 20 mg cholesterol, 23.5 g protein, 77.3 g carbohydrates, 5.6 g fiber, 489 mg sodium. — Linda Gassenheimer, charlotteobserver, "Clams and spaghettini make an easy dinner for 2," 6 July 2018 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

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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Last Updated

30 Nov 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