Standard Lemma guide

ergosterol

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The steroid precursor of vitamin D2. It is found in cell membranes of fungi, and is their functional equivalent of cholesterol. It is also found in the membranes of some protists.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Qualifier: steroids

Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, microbiology, mycology, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a plant sterol that is converted into vitamin D by ultraviolet radiation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sterol, steroid alcohol

History

Etymology

From French ergot + sterol.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: ergosterol — steroid precursor of vitamin D2
  • Chinese Mandarin: 麥角固醇 /麦角固醇 (màijiǎo gùchún) — steroid precursor of vitamin D2
  • Finnish: ergosteroli — steroid precursor of vitamin D2
  • French: ergostérol — steroid precursor of vitamin D2
  • German: Ergosterin — steroid precursor of vitamin D2
  • German: Ergosterol — steroid precursor of vitamin D2
  • Hindi: कवकसांद्रव (kavaksāndrav) — steroid precursor of vitamin D2
  • Italian: ergosterolo — steroid precursor of vitamin D2
  • Portuguese: ergosterol — steroid precursor of vitamin D2
  • Romanian: ergosterol — steroid precursor of vitamin D2
  • Spanish: ergosterol — steroid precursor of vitamin D2