fat cell
nounDefinition of fat cell
: a specialized cell of adipose tissue that stores excess energy in the form of triglyceride droplets : adipocyte
When food is not available and insulin levels fall, the fat cells release triglycerides back into the bloodstream, where they are transported to the liver and broken down into ketones, which can serve as fuel for muscle and the brain.— Jeffrey S. Flier et al. Cellulite is formed by a collection of fat cells around the fibrous cords that attach skin to muscle.— Jeannie Ralston
Examples of fat cell in a Sentence
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Each bite is a matrix of muscle and fat cells, interlaced with blood vessels and enrobed by connective tissue. — Natalie R. Rubio, The Conversation, "So far cultured meat has been burgers – the next big challenge is animal-free steaks," 5 July 2019 The rapid contractions also cause your muscles to release chemicals that tell fat cells in the area to break down. — Samantha Lauriello, Health.com, "What Is Emsculpt, and Will It Really Give Me Tighter Abs and a Rounder Butt?," 13 June 2019 Muscle cells fuse together to create long muscle fibers and fat cells begin to produce lipids. — Natalie R. Rubio, The Conversation, "So far cultured meat has been burgers – the next big challenge is animal-free steaks," 5 July 2019 The rest of the excess glucose gets stored in our fat cells as body fat, again with the assistance of insulin. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Here's What Carbs Actually Do in Your Body," 23 May 2019 Over the course of a few weeks, the dead fat cells are absorbed and eliminated as waste. — Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, "Everything You Need to Know About CoolSculpting (and Were Too Afraid to Ask)," 11 Jan. 2019 One crucial role that has emerged is in promoting the differentiation of various types of stem cell, including those for blood and fat cells — and, most recently, for neurons. — Quanta Magazine, "Biologists Discover Unknown Powers in Mighty Mitochondria," 18 Mar. 2019 The rapid contractions also cause your muscles to release chemicals that signal fat cells in the area to break down. — Samantha Lauriello, Health.com, "Drew Barrymore’s Weight Loss Journey Hasn’t Been Easy—but She Finally Found Something That Works," 13 June 2019 Research shows that fat cells in those who are sleep-deprived are less able to respond properly to insulin, which may lead to weight gain. — Karyn Repinski, Woman's Day, "New Research Links Belly Fat to an Increased Risk of Heart Attacks in Women," 23 Jan. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fat cell.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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