sterol
[ steer-awl, -ol, ster- ]
/ ˈstɪər ɔl, -ɒl, ˈstɛr- /
noun Biochemistry.
any of a group of solid, mostly unsaturated, polycyclic alcohols, as cholesterol and ergosterol, derived from plants or animals.
Origin of sterol
1910–15; extracted from such words as
cholesterol,
ergosterol, etc.
Words nearby sterol
steroid,
steroid acne,
steroid hormone,
steroid ulcer,
steroidogenesis,
sterol,
stertor,
stertorous,
stet,
stethalgia,
stetho-
British Dictionary definitions for sterol
sterol
/ (ˈstɛrɒl) /
noun
biochem
any of a group of natural steroid alcohols, such as cholesterol and ergosterol, that are waxy insoluble substances
Word Origin for sterol
C20: shortened from
cholesterol,
ergosterol, etc
Medical definitions for sterol
sterol
[ stĕr′ôl′, -ōl′, stîr′- ]
n.
Any of a group of predominantly unsaturated solid alcohols of the steroid group, such as cholesterol and ergosterol, present in the fatty tissues of plants and animals.
Scientific definitions for sterol
sterol
[ stîr′ôl′ ]
Any of various alcohols having the structure of a steroid, usually with a hydroxyl group (OH) attached to the third carbon atom. Sterols are found in the tissues of animals, plants, fungi, and yeasts and include cholesterol.