carotene

American  

[kar-uh-teen] / ˈkær əˌtin /

noun

1. any of three yellow or orange fat-soluble pigments having the formula C 40 H 56 , found in many plants, especially carrots, and transformed to vitamin A in the liver; provitamin A.

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carotene British  

/ ˈkærəˌtiːn, ˈkærətɪn /

noun

1. any of four orange-red isomers of an unsaturated hydrocarbon present in many plants (β-carotene is the orange pigment of carrots) and converted to vitamin A in the liver. Formula: C 40 H 56

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carotene Scientific  

/ kăr′ə-tēn′ /

1. Any of various organic compounds that occur as orange-yellow to red pigments in many plants and in animal tissue. In plant leaves, carotenes aid in the absorption of light energy by transferring the energy to chlorophyll and act as antioxidants protecting chlorophyll from damage by oxidation. In animals, carotenes are converted to vitamin A primarily in the liver. They are members of the carotenoid family of compounds and give plants such as carrots, pumpkins, and dandelions their characteristic color. Chemical formula: C ₄₀ H ₅₆ .

2. See also xanthophyll

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Etymology

Origin of carotene

1860–65; < Late Latin carōt ( a ) carrot + -ene

Example Sentences

Carotene is a yellow pigment found in carrots and some other plants.

From Time Magazine Archive