-ˌrȯl, -ˌrōl noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary cholester in + -ol
: a fat-soluble crystalline steroid alcohol C 27 H 45 OH that occurs as an essential constituent of animal cells and body fluids, is important in physiological processes, has been implicated experimentally as a factor in arteriosclerosis, is synthesized in the body especially in the liver and adrenal cortex, is usually extracted from beef spinal cord and wool grease, and is used in the synthesis of vitamin D 3 and steroid hormones (as testosterone) and in the making of ointments and lotions — compare structural formula