Definition

Noun: 1. A lipid; a fat-like substance: A lipoid is any of a large group of organic compounds that are oily, greasy, or waxy. They are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents like alcohol or ether. Lipoids are a fundamental structural component of all living cells, alongside proteins and carbohydrates. 2. A biochemical building block: Lipoids include substances such as fats, oils, waxes, and certain vitamins and hormones. They serve critical functions in energy storage, cell membrane structure, and signaling.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The cell membrane is primarily composed of proteins and lipoids.
  • Scientists extracted the lipoid fraction from the tissue sample for analysis.
  • Certain lipoids, like cholesterol, are essential in moderation but harmful in excess.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Scientific Context: The term "lipoid" is often used interchangeably with "lipid" in biological and chemical texts. It can specifically refer to substances that resemble fats in their physical properties (e.g., solubility) even if their chemical structure differs slightly.
  • The pathologist noted the presence of lipoid deposits in the arterial walls.

Variants and Related Words

• Lipid (n): The more common modern synonym for lipoid.
• Lipoidal (adj): Having the properties of a lipoid; fatty or oily in nature.
  • The substance had a lipoidal consistency.

Synonyms

• Lipid
• Fat
• Oil (in a biochemical context)
• Wax (a specific type of lipoid)

Notes on Meaning

• Core Meaning: The primary and most common meaning of "lipoid" is as a noun referring to the broad class of fat-soluble biochemical compounds.
• Specificity: While often a general term, it can be used to describe specific compounds (e.g., "a phospholipid is a type of lipoid").

Noun

1. an oily organic compound insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents; essential structural component of living cells (along with proteins and carbohydrates)