noun
: any of several acids (as cholic acid) that occur in bile usually in the form of sodium salts of the acids conjugated with glycine or taurine (as in glycocholic acid or taurocholic acid), that are formed in the body from cholesterol and belong to the class of steroids, that promote the digestion of fats and other lipides by their emulsifying and solubilizing actions, and that aid in the absorption of many water-insoluble organic substances by forming soluble complexes with them ; also : any conjugated bile acid