provitamin

[ proh-vahy-tuh-min; British also proh-vit-uh-min ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a substance that an organism can transform into a vitamin, as carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the liver.

provitamin

/ prəʊˈvɪtəmɪn /

noun

1. a substance, such as carotene, that is converted into a vitamin in animal tissues

Word History and Origins

Origin of provitamin¹

First recorded in 1925–30; pro- ¹ + vitamin