lipolysis The breakdown of storage lipids in living organisms. Most long-term energy reserves are in the form of triglycerides in fats and oils. When these are needed, e.g. during starvation, lipase enzymes convert the triglycerides into glycerol and the component fatty acids. These are then transported to tissues and oxidized to provide energy.

lipolysis The hydrolysis of fats to glycerol and fatty acids. See lipase.

lipolysis (lip-ol-i-sis) n. the process by which lipids are broken down into their constituent fatty acids in the body by the enzyme lipase.
—lipolytic adj.