n.
Pronunciation: ' skw ā - ˌ l ē n
Function: noun
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary, from Latin squalus, a sea fish ― more at WHALE
Date: 1916
: an acyclic hydrocarbon C 30 H 50 that is widely distributed in nature (as a major component of sebum and in shark-liver oils) and is a precursor of sterols (as cholesterol)