Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Nearby Entries
squalene - 4 dictionary results

squa⋅lene

  [skwey-leen]
Use squalene in a Sentence
–noun Biochemistry.
an oil, C3 0H5 0, intermediate in the synthesis of cholesterol, obtained for use in manufacturing pharmaceuticals.
Origin:
1925–30; < NL Squal(us) name of a genus of sharks (the liver of which yields the oil), L: a kind of fish + -ene
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To squalene
squa·lene   (skwā'lēn')   
n.  A colorless unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, C30H50, found especially in human sebum and in the liver oil of sharks, that is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of cholesterol and is used in biochemical research.

[New Latin Squalus, shark genus (from its occurrence in the liver oil of sharks) (from Latin squalus, a sea fish) + -ene.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Main Entry: squa·lene
Pronunciation: 'skwA-"lEn
Function: noun
: an acyclic hydrocarbon C30H50 that is widely distributed innature (as a major component of sebum and in shark-liver oils) and is a precursor of sterols (as cholesterol)
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
squalene   (skwā'lēn')  Pronunciation Key 
A colorless, unsaturated hydrocarbon found especially in the liver oil of sharks and in human sebum. It is an intermediate compound in the body's synthesis of cholesterol. Chemical formula: C30H50.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see squalene on Thesaurus | Reference