Dictionary.com
definitions

nutrition

[noo-trish-uh n, nyoo-]
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nutrition ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or process of nourishing or of being nourished.
the science or study of, or a course of study in, nutrition, especially of humans.
the process by which organisms take in and utilize food material.
food; nutriment.
the pursuit of this science as an occupation or profession.

RELATED CONTENT

Nutritional vs. HealthyYou’ll often see these two words in the same paragraph or even the same sentence, and at first glance, it seems natural that healthy and nutritional would go hand-in-hand. But, a closer examination reveals the true scope of each word, and a better understanding may help you make better food choices. (No judgment. Some of us are still holding on to our love of a certain breakfast cereal …
READ MORE
EBTRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

nourishment, victuals, menu, nutriment, diet, sustenance, subsistence, dietetics

Nearby words

  1. nutrigenetics,
  2. nutrigenomics,
  3. nutrilite,
  4. nutriment,
  5. nutrimental,
  6. nutritional,
  7. nutritionist,
  8. nutritionist's calorie,
  9. nutritious,
  10. nutritiously

Origin of nutrition

1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin nūtrītiōn- (stem of nūtrītiō) a feeding, equivalent to Latin nūtrīt(us) (past participle of nūtrīre to feed, nourish) + -iōn- -ion
Related formsnu·tri·tion·al, nu·tri·tion·ar·y, adjectivenu·tri·tion·al·ly, adverbhy·per·nu·tri·tion, nounsu·per·nu·tri·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nutrition

British Dictionary definitions for nutrition

nutrition

noun

a process in animals and plants involving the intake of nutrient materials and their subsequent assimilation into the tissuesRelated adjectives: alimentary, trophic
the act or process of nourishing
the study of nutrition, esp in humans
Derived Formsnutritional or rare nutritionary, adjectivenutritionally, adverb

Word Origin for nutrition

C16: from Late Latin nūtrītiō, from nūtrīre to nourish
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 nutrition

nutrition

n.

early 15c., from Old French nutrition (14c.) and directly from Latin nutritionem (nominative nutritio) "a nourishing," noun of action from past participle stem of nutrire "to nourish, suckle" (see nourish).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for nutrition

nutrition

[nōō-trĭsh′ən]

n.

The process by which living organisms obtain food and use it for growth, metabolism, and repair. Its stages include ingestion, digestion, absorption, transport, assimilation, and excretion.
The science that deals with food and nourishment, including dietary guidelines, food composition, and the roles that various nutrients have in maintaining health.
Related formsnu•tri′tion•al adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for nutrition

nutrition

[nōō-trĭsh′ən]

The process by which living organisms obtain food and use it for growth, metabolism, and repair. The stages of nutrition include ingestion, digestion, absorption, transport, assimilation, and excretion.
The scientific study of food and nourishment, including food composition, dietary guidelines, and the roles that various nutrients have in maintaining health.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.