low-densityadj.
/ləʊˈdɛnsᵻti/, U.S. /ˌloʊˈdɛnsədi/ Having a low density; spec. (a) (of a substance) having a low relative density (specific gravity); (b) (of a residential area) not densely populated.
ΚΠ
1870 Sci. Opinion 19 Jan. 29/1 The restriction of the use of coal-oils..is a useful enactment, since it removes a very great proportion of the low-density oils.
1920 U.S. Patent 1,338,564 1/2 I may use any of the low density woods such as spruce, white pine or redwood.
1960 New Left Rev. May 70/2 Low density, two-storey three-bedroom housing.
1964 Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 115 569 The resulting digital data, when stored on low-density (200 characters per inch) digital tape, would fill 84 digital tapes.
1992 Jrnl. Hist. Ideas 53 106 Mumford and Geddes propose to implement..small-scale, low-density garden cities.
1998 Chem. in Brit. Sept. 22/2 Low density polyethylene (LDPE) was developed by ICI some 60 years ago.
2010 Guardian 27 May 27 (caption) Mushroom clouds..can also form as a result of the sudden formation of a large mass of hot low-density gases near the ground.
Compounds
low-density lipoprotein n. Biochemistry any of a class of lipoproteins which have a relatively low density and a higher content of cholesterol than other classes of plasma lipoprotein, and which transport cholesterol to peripheral tissues in the body; abbreviated LDL.
ΚΠ
1947 K. O. Pedersen in Jrnl. Physical & Colloid Chem. 51 156 (title) On a low-density lipoprotein appearing in normal human plasma.
1979 Compl. Bk. Roller Skating vi. 87 The bad guys are the low-density lipoproteins which transport the cholesterol that is deposited on the linings of your blood vessels.
2007 Independent 15 Jan. 6/5 Experts..had found the strongest link yet between Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and Parkinson's.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1870