Cholesterin

/koʊˈlɛstərɪn/ noun

Definition

An older scientific name for cholesterol, referring to the fatty substance found in animal tissues and blood.

Etymology

From Greek 'chole' (bile) + 'stereos' (solid) + '-in' (chemical suffix). This was the original term used in the 1700s before it was renamed cholesterol in the 1800s.

Kelly Says

Scientists originally thought cholesterin was only found in bile (hence the 'chole' prefix), but later realized it's in every cell in your body—it's actually crucial for making cell membranes and hormones!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.