Definition

A type of fat molecule that has one or more sugar groups attached to it.

Example

Glycolipids are important for cell recognition and signaling.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a glycolipid?

Yeah, I think it’s something related to cell membranes, right?

Exactly! It contains carbohydrates along with lipids, which is pretty interesting.

For sure! It’s amazing how complex our cells are.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Glycolipid → It is formed from "glyco-" (from Greek "glykys", meaning sweet) and "lipid" (from Greek "lipos", meaning fat). The word refers to a type of fat that has a sugar component, hence the combination of sweet and fat.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sweet' ('glyco-') combined with 'fat' ('lipid') to remember that a glycolipid is a sweet fat molecule.

Visually Confused Words