lycopene

[ lahy-kuh-peen ]

/ ˈlaɪ kəˌpin /

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noun Biochemistry.

a red crystalline substance, C40H56, that is the main pigment of certain fruits, as the tomato and paprika, and is a precursor to carotene in plant biosynthesis.

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Origin of lycopene

1925–30; earlier lycop(in) (<New Latin Lycop(ersicon) tomato genus (<Greek lýk(os) wolf + -o--o- + Persikónpeach¹) + -in²) + -ene

Words nearby lycopene

lychnis, lychnoscope, Lycia, Lycian, lycine, lycopene, lycophyte, lycopod, lycopodium, lycoris, lycosid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for lycopene

Lycopene

/ (ˈlaɪkəˌpiːn) /

noun

an acyclic carotenoid occuring in tomatoes and some other ripe fruit as a red pigment. As an antioxidant its consumption can reduce the risk of some cancers

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

Scientific definitions for lycopene

lycopene

[ lī′kə-pēn′ ]

A red carotenoid found chiefly in blood, the reproductive organs, tomatoes, and palm oils. It is an antioxidant and is the parent substance from which all natural carotenoids are derived. Chemical formula: C40H56.