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

This has raised new scientific interest in understanding whether certain nutrients might influence the body's defense system.

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These pathways also help maintain fluid balance, deliver nutrients and immune cells, and provide protection against injury.

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Many of the young adults showed unusually low blood levels of choline, a nutrient essential for supporting liver health, regulating inflammation and protecting long-term brain function.

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The team also observed the early weakening of the blood-brain barrier, which normally regulates nutrient flow into the brain and prevents harmful substances from entering.

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Growing even modest quantities of mycoprotein requires significant inputs, and the spores must be cultivated in large metal tanks filled with sugar-rich feedstock and added nutrients such as ammonium sulfate.

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Related Words

• fiber 
• food 
• mineral 
• vitamin