nutrient

[noo-tree-uhnt, nyoo-]

adjective

1. nourishing; nourishing; providing nourishment or nutriment.

2. containing or conveying nutriment, as solutions or vessels of the body.

noun

1. a nutrient substance.

nutrient

/ ˈnjuːtrɪənt /

noun

1. any of the mineral substances that are absorbed by the roots of plants for nourishment

2. any substance that nourishes an organism

adjective

1. providing or contributing to nourishment

   a nutrient solution

nutrient

1. A substance that provides nourishment for growth or metabolism. Plants absorb nutrients mainly from the soil in the form of minerals and other inorganic compounds, and animals obtain nutrients from ingested foods.

Other Word Forms

• nonnutrient adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nutrient¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin nūtrient-, stem of nūtriēns “feeding,” present participle of nūtrīre “to feed”; nourish

Word History and Origins

Origin of nutrient¹

C17: from Latin nūtrīre to nourish

Example Sentences

Orchid seeds are as small as dust and do not provide any nutrients for the young plant to grow.

Read more on Science Daily

Runoff from the fires added fewer nutrients over the course of the bloom than sewage treatment facilities did, he said.

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Clubs have nutritionists who can use the tracking data from players to help prepare the body for the bleed and ensure they get enough nutrients before, during and after sessions.

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The Soil Nutrient Health Scheme is in its final year, with every field in Northern Ireland being tested for its nutrient content.

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Though the foetus is not alive, it continues to develop by absorbing nutrients from the host twin.

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Related Words

• fiber 
• food 
• mineral 
• vitamin