choline

noun cho·line \ ˈkō-ˌlēn \

|Updated on: 4 Jun 2018

Definition of choline

: a basic compound C₅H₁₄NO that is found in various foods (such as egg yolks and legumes) or is synthesized in the liver, that is a component of lecithin and a precursor of acetylcholine, and that is essential to the metabolism of fat in the liver and is usually included in the vitamin B complex

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Recent Examples of choline from the Web

What nutrients are in chicken breast? Chicken breasts are a great source of the essential nutrient choline, providing 13% of your daily value in one serving.

— amy berkowitz, Good Housekeeping, "How to Get the Best Nutrition from Chicken Breasts," 6 Mar. 2018
Yolks also supply an excellent source of choline, a nutrient critical for brain and spinal cord development.

— darlene zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, "Eggs: What you need to know about size, color and type," 22 Apr. 2018
Egg yolks are also the most concentrated source of choline, an under-consumed, essential nutrient important to brain health.

— NBC News, "5 diet tips to forget and what to do instead," 15 May 2017
Vegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, copper, magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin B6, folate, iron, manganese, thiamin, niacin and choline.

— NBC News, "How I learned to love (or at least tolerate) vegetables," 26 Mar. 2018
Most inventive beer: Dream Reamer, a Belgian gold strong made with ingredients full of naturally occurring Melatonin, B12 vitamins and choline.

— bailey loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Everything you need to know about Ethereal Brewing, a craft brewery in Lexington," 4 Mar. 2018
One of the best sources of protein available, eggs are chock-full of essential nutrients such as vitamins A, D, B12, and choline.

— caroline walder, Good Housekeeping, "Here's Why Eggs Are One of the Best Things You Can Eat," 1 Mar. 2018
Among the more than two dozen ingredients in the kangaroo formula: biotin, choline, inositol, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, iodine and selenium.

— serena solomon, New York Times, "Saving Koalas, and Other Marsupials, With Milk Almost as Good as Mom’s," 24 Feb. 2018
The yolk also contains choline, another essential nutrient with a wide range of roles relating to metabolism.

— alexa tucker, SELF, "Here's What Oprah Eats in a Day," 11 Jan. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of choline

International Scientific Vocabulary

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1871

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

choline

noun cho·line \ ˈkō-ˌlēn \

medical Definition of choline

: a basic compound C₅H₁₄NO that is found in various foods (as egg yolk and legumes) or is synthesized in the liver and that is a component of lecithin, is a precursor of acetylcholine, and is essential to liver function