Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Any of a group of phospholipids found in egg yolks and the plasma membrane of plant and animal cells, used as an emulsifier in a wide range of commercial products, including foods, cosmetics, paints, and plastics. Also called phosphatidylcholine.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A nitrogenous fatty substance, to which the formula C44H90NPO9 has been given, which is found in small quantity in the blood, bile, and other fluids of the body, but most abundantly in the brain- and nervetissues, in pus, and in the yolk of eggs. It is slightly crystalline, has a greasy feel, and is insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform. It decomposes readily into stearic acid, glycerin-phosphoric acid, and cholin or neurin.
Wiktionary
- n. organic chemistry the principal phospholipid in animals; it is particularly abundant in egg yolks, and is extracted commercially from soy. It is a major constituent of cell membranes, and is commonly used as a food additive (as an emulsifier).
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. (Physiol. Chem.) A complex, nitrogenous phosphorized substance widely distributed through the animal body, and especially conspicuous in the brain and nerve tissue, in yolk of eggs, and in the white blood corpuscles.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a yellow phospholipid essential for the metabolism of fats; found in egg yolk and in many plant and animal cells; used commercially as an emulsifier
Etymologies
- Coined in 1847 by Theodore Gobley, from Ancient Greek λέκιθος (lékithos, "egg yolk") (Wiktionary)
- French lécithine : Greek lekithos, egg yolk + French -ine, -in. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“But what greatly helps the oil and water to remain separate is, among other things, a molecule in the yolk called lecithin, which, McGee explains, is part water soluble and part fat soluble.”
“Usually soy lecithin, which is derived from soybeans, is extracted chemically.”
“Eggs: A good source of lecithin, which is a great brain stimulant, also rich in choline, which helps improve memory function.”
“The lecithin is an oil-free lecithin powder containing 95% phosphatides.”
“Raw egg yolk: a potent source of organic lecithin, which is a major component in brain and nerve tissue; also stimulates sluggish adrenal glands, which alleviates fatigue; 2 yolks daily, blended into carrot juice.”
“Many commercial dressings use a fatty substance called lecithin, but at home, it's much easier, and tastier, to add a flavouring that will do the same job.”
“The richest source of choline found in the U.S. diet comes not from a food, but from an additive called lecithin (phosphytidylcholine).”
“A good egg contains enough of a compound called lecithin to help breakdown most of the cholesterol present in the egg itself.”
“Try to buy the kind of lecithin that has the highest phosphatidyl choline content because this substance is the second benefit of taking lecithin.”
“Unfortunately, as Goto demonstrated, bitters is full of small molecules, such as lecithin, which cause the champagne's foam to strengthen and grow, so pouring fizz onto bitters can be a messy proposition, releasing too much CO”
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Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘lecithin’.
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food collection
bread, peel, pot, chorizo, Filet, olive, fill, Phyllo, dough, bake, mat, pinot and 988 more...
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words
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Learn from Andy
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10-cent Words - Literally!
I'm giving my daughter 10 cents for each new word she learns how to spell - here is a sampling.
labyrinth, lackadaisical, laryngitis, lecithin, legerdemain, leviathan, lichen, lieutenant, lilliputian, liniment, logarithm, lozenge and 17 more...
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