The splitting up (hydrolysis), or chemical decomposition, of fat. SYN: lipoclasis, lipodieresis. [lipo- + G. lysis, dissolution]
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li·po·lyt·ic .lip-ə-'lit-ik, .līp- adj
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n.
the process by which lipids, particularly triglycerides in fat, are broken down into their constituent fatty acids in the body by the enzyme lipase.
• lipolytic adj.
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li·pol·y·sis (lĭ-polґə-sis) [lipo- + -lysis] the decomposition or splitting up of fat; see also lipidolysis.Medical dictionary. 2011.