What does lipide mean?
Lipide is a technical noun, and chiefly a British variant of the more familiar lipid, for any member of a broad class of organic substances that includes fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids and steroids. These compounds are generally poorly soluble in water and perform varied biological roles. Some form cell membranes, some store energy, and others participate in signalling or the transport of substances through the body. In medicine and biology, lipide commonly appears in references to blood lipide levels, cholesterol and abnormalities of lipide metabolism. The singular names an individual member of the class, while the plural lipides refers to several such substances. The word has a formal, scientific register and is unusual in everyday conversation. Lipide is worth knowing because it reveals a subtle terminological and regional distinction: although it and lipid refer to the same category, encountering the former in British writing should not lead a reader to expect a different kind of molecule.
nounA member of a class of organic substances, including fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids and steroids, that are generally poorly soluble in water. It is a chiefly British variant of the more common term lipid.
- Any member of the class of organic substances that includes fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids and steroids, generally poorly soluble in water.
"Her blood tests revealed elevated lipide levels."
"The test measures lipide levels in the blood."
"Abnormal lipide metabolism can indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular disease."
The regular plural is lipides, used when referring to several lipids or to multiple members of the class.
"The test measures cholesterol and other lipides in the blood."
Same fat-like molecules, different labels: lipide is chiefly British, while lipid is now the familiar scientific term.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lipide come from?
The English noun lipide was borrowed from French lipide in the early 20th century. The French word was formed from Greek lipos, meaning “fat”, with the chemical suffix -ide; lipid is a parallel English form with the same ultimate source. Greek lipos also survives in lipase, lipolysis, lipoma and lipophilic.
Related word forms
How lipide is actually used
This is a formal, technical and relatively uncommon word in general English. In scientific writing it is a regional variant rather than a distinct biochemical category.
Easily confused with lipide
They do not denote different things: lipide is the less common chiefly British form, while lipid is the standard modern term.