carbohydrate

[ kahr-boh-hahy-dreyt, -buh- ]
/ ˌkɑr boʊˈhaɪ dreɪt, -bə- /

noun

any of a class of organic compounds that are polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones, or change to such substances on simple chemical transformations, as hydrolysis, oxidation, or reduction, and that form the supporting tissues of plants and are important food for animals and people.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU FEEL THE WEAL WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ?

Did you collect all of last week’s words, but eftsoons forget what they mean? Don’t worry, we’re here to jog your memory. See how many words from the week of May 18 to 24 you can get right!
Question 1 of 7
weal
well-being, prosperity, or happiness.
the intervening time.
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of carbohydrate

First recorded in 1865–70; carbo- + hydrate

OTHER WORDS FROM carbohydrate

non·car·bo·hy·drate, noun

Words nearby carbohydrate

carbobenzoxy, carbocholine, carbocyclic, carbocyclic compound, carbohydrase, carbohydrate, carbohydrate loading, carbohydrate-induced hyperlipemia, carbohydrates, carbohydraturia, carbolated
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to carbohydrates

sugar, starch, lactose, glucose, cellulose, galactose, glycogen, monosaccharide, disaccharide, sucrose, maltose, fructose, dextrose, dextrin, polysaccharide

Example sentences from the Web for carbohydrates

British Dictionary definitions for carbohydrates

carbohydrate
/ (ˌkɑːbəʊˈhaɪdreɪt) /

noun

any of a large group of organic compounds, including sugars, such as sucrose, and polysaccharides, such as cellulose, glycogen, and starch, that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with the general formula C m (H 2 O) n : an important source of food and energy for animalsInformal term: carb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for carbohydrates

carbohydrate
[ kär′bō-hī′drāt′ ]

n.

Any of a group of organic compounds that includes sugars, starches, celluloses, and gums and serves as a major energy source in the diet of animals; they are produced by photosynthetic plants and contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, usually in the ratio 1:2:1.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for carbohydrates

carbohydrate
[ kär′bō-hī′drāt′ ]

Any of a large class of organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, usually with twice as many hydrogen atoms as carbon or oxygen atoms. Carbohydrates are produced in green plants by photosynthesis and serve as a major energy source in animal diets. Sugars, starches, and cellulose are all carbohydrates.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for carbohydrates

carbohydrates

Substances composed of long chains of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon molecules. Sugar, starch, and cellulose are all carbohydrates. In the human body, carbohydrates play a major role in respiration; in plants, they are important in photosynthesis.

notes for carbohydrates

Carbohydrates in food provide energy for the body and, if present in excess, are stored as fat.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.