Cholesterol: Definition, Types, and Health Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：blood cholesterol level (cholesterol)

cholesterol 🔊

/kəˈlestərɒl/

Usually refers to the amount of this substance in your blood, which is a key number doctors check for heart health.

Cholesterol level medical lab report showing numerical results on a desk

blood cholesterol level 🔊

➕

/blʌd kəˈlestərɒl ˈlɛvəl/

Refers to the concentration of cholesterol in the bloodstream, commonly measured in medical tests to evaluate cardiovascular health.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'chole' (bile) + 'steros' (solid), with suffix '-ol' for alcohols.

💡 Mnemonic

Cholesterol: CHOL (bile) + ESTEROL (like ester in fats) – think of fats from bile in blood.

📖 Example

After getting my blood test results, I was relieved to see that my cholesterol was within the normal range. 🔊 After receiving my blood test report, I was happy to find that my cholesterol level was normal.

🔗 Collocations

high cholesterol – elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood

cholesterol test – a medical examination to measure cholesterol levels

lower cholesterol – to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood

🔄 Synonyms

blood cholesterol (n.) – cholesterol present in the bloodstream

serum cholesterol (n.) – cholesterol measured in blood serum

🌱 Derivatives

hypercholesterolemia (n.) – condition of having high cholesterol levels in the blood

📖 Cultural Story

Coined in 1769 from Greek roots, cholesterol was first isolated from gallstones. Today, it is a key term in routine health screenings for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Meaning 2：waxy fat-like substance (cholesterol)

cholesterol 🔊

/kəˈlestərɒl/

A waxy, fat-like substance that travels in your blood and is part of every cell in your body.

3D illustration of a waxy cholesterol molecule inside a blood vessel

waxy fat-like substance 🔊

➕

/ˈwæksi ˈfæt laɪk ˈsʌbstəns/

A lipid molecule that is waxy and fat-like, naturally produced by the body and found in every cell, essential for various bodily functions.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

My doctor told me to eat more nuts and fish because they contain healthy fats that can help manage my cholesterol. 🔊 My doctor advised eating nuts and fish as they contain healthy fats that can help control cholesterol.

🔗 Collocations

LDL cholesterol – low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, often called 'bad' cholesterol

HDL cholesterol – high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, often called 'good' cholesterol

cholesterol molecule – the chemical structure of cholesterol

🔄 Synonyms

lipid (n.) – a broad category of fats and fat-like substances including cholesterol

sterol (n.) – a type of steroid alcohol, with cholesterol being a common example

🌱 Derivatives

cholesteryl (adj.) – relating to or derived from cholesterol

cholesterol-free (adj.) – containing no cholesterol