phospholipid

noun

phos·​pho·​lip·​id ˌfäs-fō-ˈli-pəd 

: any of various phosphorus-containing complex lipids (such as lecithins and phosphatidylethanolamines) that are derived from glycerol and are major constituents of the membranes of cells and intracellular organelles and vesicles

Note: Phospholipids typically consist of a hydrophilic polar phosphate head and a hydrophobic tail of two fatty acids. In aqueous environments, phospholipids typically form semipermeable bilayers in which the hydrophilic heads point outward and the hydrophobic tails point inward toward each other.

Examples of phospholipid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The fatty acid composition, phospholipid composition, and protein composition of the samples were generally similar. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 28 Mar. 2024

This chemical compound is a type of phospholipid, which acts as a kind of barrier to protect cells and enable certain cell functions. —Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2023

Hu’s goal in this latest research is to verify his theory: that the chaotic immune response is, in fact, directly linked to this battle against the phospholipids. —Kay Lazar, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2023

Foods that include phospholipids, such as lecithin; milk and almonds are both a good source. —Ana Morales, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2023

Green is a healthy fat, or phospholipid, and an essential compound within the human brain. —Dallas News, 23 Aug. 2022

Víctor Rivilla at the Spanish Astrobiology Centre in Madrid and colleagues, have made the first detection in space of ethanolamine, a crucial component of the simplest phospholipid. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 27 May 2021

Sharp-PS Green is an advanced form of a phospholipid, or healthy fat, that’s present in the human brain. —Dallas News, 24 Jan. 2023

This is a phase micrograph at 400X magnification of structures formed by a phospholipid in water. —Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2013

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

phospholipid

noun

phos·​pho·​lip·​id ˌfäs-fō-ˈlip-əd 

: a phosphorus-containing fatty substance that forms the main structural part of a cell membrane

Medical Definition

phospholipid

noun

phos·​pho·​lip·​id -ˈlip-əd 

variants also phospholipide

-ˌīd 

: any of various phosphorus-containing complex lipids (such as lecithins and phosphatidylethanolamines) that are derived from glycerol and are major constituents of the membranes of cells and intracellular organelles and vesicles

Note: Phospholipids typically consist of a hydrophilic polar phosphate head and a hydrophobic tail of two fatty acids. In aqueous environments, phospholipids typically form semipermeable bilayers in which the hydrophilic heads point outward and the hydrophobic tails point inward toward each other.

called also phosphatide, phospholipin