cholesterol

/kəˈlɛstəɹɒl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: cholesterols

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A sterol lipid synthesized by the liver and transported in the bloodstream to the membranes of all animal cells; it plays a central role in many biochemical processes and, as a lipoprotein that coats the walls of blood vessels, is associated with cardiovascular disease.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The level of cholesterol in the body.

Noun

Examples

improve your cholesterol; lower your cholesterol

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “cholesterol” mean?

A sterol lipid synthesized by the liver and transported in the bloodstream to the membranes of all animal cells; it plays a central role in many biochemical processes and, as a lipoprotein that coats the walls of blood vessels, is associated with cardiovascular disease.

Is “cholesterol” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.