Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
lipase

lipase

2 7.5
A substance in the body that helps break down fat
  • noun
  • /ˈlaɪpeɪs/
  • Specialized
: lipasa
  • It is an inhibitor of gastrointestinal lipase enzymes, which normally catalyze the hydrolysis of dietary fat.
  • lipoprotein lipase
  • enzymes such as lipase
  • amylase and lipase

There are the lipases, which breakdown oils and fats.

Examples

  • Water and mucin, in addition to enzymes such as amylase, ribonuclease, and lipase, initiate the digestion of food by lubricating it and dissolving it into particles.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Postoperatively, the patient demonstrated a smooth recovery with resolution of her abdominal complaints and return to baseline of her lipase and amylase.

    Academic text (2007)

  • There are the lipases, which breakdown oils and fats.

    Rich Roll

  • Lipase is an important enzyme that helps the body digest fats by breaking them down into fatty acids and glycerol.

  • Children can develop digestive issues if their bodies do not produce enough lipase to break down dietary fats.

  • The doctor explained that lipase levels can indicate how well the pancreas is functioning in digesting fats.

Synonyms

lipolytic
vslipase
  • Specialized
8.8

An enzyme or drug that breaks down fat in the body

is a specific digestive enzyme that breaks fats into fatty acids and glycerol

Surface Forms

lipase singular
lipases plural

Etymology

Lipase comes from the Greek root lipos meaning 'fat' and the ending -ase that names enzymes. So lipase is the enzyme that breaks fats into smaller parts, and the same root appears in lipid, a word for 'fat'.