carbohydrate

[kahr-boh-hahy-dreyt, -buh-]

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.

Origin of carbohydrate

First recorded in 1865–70; carbo- + hydrate

Related formsnon·car·bo·hy·drate, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for carbohydrates

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

Examples from the Web for carbohydrates

Contemporary Examples of carbohydrates

Unlike sports beverages, coconut water is low in carbohydrates, while still rich in potassium.
10 Ways to Stay Hydrated (That Aren’t Water)
DailyBurn
July 25, 2014
The bottom line: Carbohydrates are neither good nor bad just by themselves.
Carbs 101: The Truth About Carbohydrates
DailyBurn
January 17, 2014
Choosing the right kind of carbohydrates allows me to get the most out of my day.
How to Be Cameron Diaz
Abby Haglage
January 6, 2014
The above-mentioned deluxe sandwich clocks in at 570 calories, 27 grams of fat, and 50 grams of carbohydrates.
Why Mike Huckabee Says He Relishes Dispute Over Chick-Fil-A
Howard Kurtz
August 3, 2012
The final ranking was based on calories, saturated fat, sodium, and carbohydrates for each dish.
30 Pastas That Kill
The Daily Beast
March 3, 2011

Historical Examples of carbohydrates

However, it is like other carbohydrates in that in solution it ferments.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2
Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
But it did not ignore the lesser potentials of metal and clumps of carbohydrates.
The Leech
Phillips Barbee
These points have to be considered in judging the digestibility of these carbohydrates.
Researches on Cellulose
C. F. Cross
On this account, they are often spoken of as carbohydrates, or "carbon-water stuffs."
A Handbook of Health
Woods Hutchinson
The acid is produced from the carbohydrates by ferment action.
Human Foods and Their Nutritive Value
Harry Snyder

British Dictionary definitions for carbohydrates

carbohydrate

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

Word Origin and History for carbohydrates

carbohydrate

1851, from carbo-, comb. form of carbon, + hydrate (n.), denoting compound produced when certain substances combine with water, from Greek hydor "water" (see water (n.1)).

The name carbohydrate was given to these compounds because, in composition, they are apparently hydrates of carbon. In structure, however, they are far more complex. [Flood]

carbohydrates in Medicine

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.

carbohydrates in Science

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.

carbohydrates in Culture

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.

Note

Carbohydrates in food provide energy for the body and, if present in excess, are stored as fat.