Any lipid containing a long-chain base like that of sphingosine ( e.g., ceramides, cerebrosides, gangliosides, sphingomyelins); a constituent of nerve tissue.
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sphin·go·lip·id .sfiŋ-gō-'lip-əd n any of a group of lipids (as sphingomyelins and cerebrosides) that yield sphingosine or one of its derivatives as one product of hydrolysis
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sphin·go·lip·id (sfing″go-lipґid) a lipid in which the backbone is sphingosine or a related base; the basic unit is a ceramide (q.v.) which is attached via its 1-hydroxyl group to a polar head group. The sphingolipids include sphingomyelins, cerebrosides, and gangliosides.Medical dictionary. 2011.