Definition

Noun: 1. A crystalline sterol alcohol: A white, waxy, crystalline substance (C₂₇H₄₅OH) that is a sterol alcohol. It is synthesized in the liver and is a normal constituent of bile. 2. A key animal sterol: An animal sterol that is a fundamental structural component of animal cell membranes and a precursor for the synthesis of steroid hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids.

Usage and Examples

• As a normal physiological component:
  • Cholesterin is essential for building and maintaining cell membranes.
  • The liver produces cholesterin to aid in digestion.
• In a medical or biochemical context:
  • High levels of cholesterin in the blood can be a risk factor for heart disease.
  • The study measured the cholesterin content in various tissues.

Advanced Usage

• "Free cholesterin": Refers to cholesterol that is unesterified, meaning it is not bound to a fatty acid. This form is a component of cell membranes.
• "Serum cholesterin": A term used in clinical contexts to refer to the concentration of cholesterol in the blood serum.

Variants and Related Words

• Cholesterol (n): This is the far more common and modern term for . The two words are synonymous, with "cholesterol" being the preferred term in contemporary English, especially in medical and general usage.
  • Doctors often check patients' cholesterol levels.

Different Meanings

• The word has only one core meaning, which is chemically and biologically identical to cholesterol. The variation is purely lexical (a difference in the word form itself).

Synonyms

• Cholesterol: The direct and primary synonym.
• Sterol: A broader category of organic compounds to which cholesterin belongs. (Note: Not all sterols are cholesterin).

Notes on Usage

• Historical/Technical Term: is an older term. In modern English, cholesterol is universally used. You will encounter primarily in older scientific literature or in specific technical/commercial compound names.
• Word Origin: The word comes from the Greek (bile) and (solid), with the suffix common in chemistry for certain substances, reflecting its discovery in gallstones.

Noun

1. an animal sterol that is normally synthesized by the liver; the most abundant steroid in animal tissues