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Glite Dictionary
steroid alcohol

steroid alcohol

6.5
A waxy chemical in animals and plants with a small alcohol part, for example cholesterol
  • noun
  • /ˈstɛrɔɪd ˈæl.kə.hɔl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : alcohol estero
  • That fat was cholesterol, a sterol, or steroid alcohol—a group of waxy, insoluble substances.

Examples

  • Cholesterol, a type of steroid alcohol, plays a crucial role in maintaining cell membrane integrity.

  • Some hormones, derived from steroid alcohols, are vital for regulating various physiological processes.

  • The human body synthesizes steroid alcohol to produce essential compounds, such as vitamin D.

Synonyms

sterol
vssteroid alcohol
  • Specialized
1 7.6

A waxy natural molecule like cholesterol found in cells

is the more descriptive name for the same class of molecules

Surface Forms

steroid alcohol singular
steroid alcohols plural

Morphology

steroid + alcohol

The term is compositional: 'steroid' names the tetracyclic core structure and 'alcohol' indicates the presence of an –OH functional group, so the combined meaning (a steroid bearing an alcohol group) follows directly from the constituents. This is a regular chemical naming pattern found across languages, making the concept predictable for learners who know both constituent words.

Etymology

Steroid alcohol gets its name from two parts: steroid, a 'fat-like' ring shape, and alcohol, a small part that sticks out like a tiny 'handle'. So imagine a ring-shaped fat with a little handle — that image explains why steroid alcohol means a waxy biological molecule, such as cholesterol, that has an alcohol part.