The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.
cholesterol
(kuh-LES-tuh-rawl, kuh-LES-tuh-rohl) A white soapy substance found in the tissues of the body and in certain foods, such as animal fats, oils, and egg yolks. Cholesterol has been linked to heart disease and atherosclerosis. (It collects on the walls of arteries and interferes with the flow of blood.) High levels of cholesterol in the blood are considered to be unhealthy. (Seesaturated fats, HDL, and LDL.)