Glycerol with an acyl moiety esterified to position 1 (i.e., 1-monoacylglycerol) or position 2 (i.e., 2-monoacylglycerol); an intermediate in the degradation and synthesis of lipids; 2-monoacylglycerols are a major end product of triacylglycerol degradation. SYN: monoglyceride.
