phospholipid

[ fos-foh-lip-id ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of a group of fatty compounds, as lecithin, composed of phosphoric esters, and occurring in living cells.

phospholipid

/ ˌfɒsfəˈlɪpɪd /

noun

1. any of a group of compounds composed of fatty acids, phosphoric acid, and a nitrogenous base: important constituents of all membranes Also calledphosphatide

phospholipid

/ fŏs′fō-lĭp′ĭd /

1. Any of various phosphorus-containing lipids, such as lecithin, that are composed mainly of fatty acids, a phosphate group, and a simple organic molecule such as glycerol. Phospholipids are the main lipids in cell membranes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of phospholipid¹

First recorded in 1925–30; phospho- + lipid

Example Sentences

Large-scale manufacturers, on the other hand, would need to figure out how to evenly disperse phospholipids in a large vat of molten chocolate, he says.

From Science News

The result suggests that phospholipids could be used to simplify chocolate tempering.

From Science News

With phospholipids, “you can simplify the whole tempering process, making sure you always have the right quality of the chocolate,” says food chemist Alejandro Marangoni of the University of Guelph in Canada.

From Science News

It’s unlikely that phospholipid auto-antibodies are the whole story, says Thomas Kickler, a hematologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who was not involved in the work.

From Science News