Real Dictionary

cholesterol in American English
a white, crystalline sterol, C27H45OH, found esp. in animal fats, blood, nerve tissue, and bile: a precursor of steroid hormonesand, if present in the blood in excessive amounts, a factor in atherosclerosis
noun: a sterol, C27H46 O, that occurs in all animal tissues, esp. in the brain, spinal cord, and adipose tissue, functioning chiefly as a protective agent in the skin and myelin sheaths of nerve cells, a detoxifier in the bloodstream, and as a precursor of many

cholesterol in British English
noun: a sterol found in all animal tissues, blood, bile, and animal fats: a precursor of other body steroids. A high level of cholesterol in the blood is implicated in some cases of atherosclerosis, leading to heart disease. Formula: C27 H45OH

cholesterol in the Pharmaceutical Industry
noun: Cholesterol is a white crystalline substance that exists in the fat, tissues, and blood of all animals. Too much cholesterol in a person's blood can cause heart disease.