cholesterol

cho-les-ter-ol · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A fatty substance found in blood and body tissues, essential for normal cell function but harmful in excess.

  2. 2.

    The level of this substance in the blood.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    high cholesterol — elevated levels in the blood
  • •
    bad cholesterol — LDL cholesterol
  • •
    good cholesterol — HDL cholesterol
  • •
    cholesterol levels — the amount measured in blood tests

Related words

See also: diet, fat, health

Etymology

From Greek "khole" meaning bile and "stereos" meaning solid, with the suffix "-ol" indicating an alcohol. Named because it was first found in gallstones.