# cholesterol

/kəˈɫɛstɝˌɔɫ/ (US) · /kəlˈɛstəɹˌɒl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cholesterol
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the biological substance

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a fatty substance that your body makes and uses to build cells.

For teachers: a sterol lipid synthesized by the liver that is a structural component of animal cell membranes and a precursor for steroid hormones.

- The body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to build healthy cells.
- Cholesterol plays a vital role in maintaining the fluidity of the plasma membrane across a range of physiological temperatures.

### 2. the medical measurement

noun · CEFR B2

the amount of this fatty substance in your blood, often checked by a doctor.

For teachers: the concentration of various lipoproteins in the blood, typically measured to assess the risk of heart disease.

- He changed his diet because his doctor said his cholesterol was too high.
- Regular blood tests are necessary to monitor her cholesterol, especially since she has a family history of cardiovascular issues.

Usage: Often used uncountably when referring to the general health marker.

## Examples

- Eating too much fried food can raise your cholesterol.
- The doctor recommended a low-fat diet and regular exercise to help lower his high cholesterol levels.
- While the body requires cholesterol for synthesizing vitamin D and bile acids, an excess of low-density lipoproteins is strongly associated with the development of atherosclerosis.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.