nutrient
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a chemical or substance that a living thing needs to stay healthy and grow.
n.a substance that an organism must obtain from its environment for growth and the maintenance of life.
Simple“Vegetables are full of important nutrients like vitamins and fiber.”
In context“The soil was depleted of essential nutrients after years of intensive farming without crop rotation.”
UsageCommonly used in the plural when referring to various types of food components.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.describing something that provides the things your body needs to grow.
adj.providing nourishment or serving as a source of food for an organism.
Simple“The scientist studied the nutrient properties of the new grain.”
In context“The nutrient value of the algae was assessed to determine its suitability as a sustainable biofuel source.”
UsageIn modern English, 'nutritious' is much more common as an adjective; 'nutrient' as an adjective is largely restricted to technical or academic writing.
Synonymsnutritiousnutritive
Usage nutrients like
“Like all foods, deli meats contain a mixture of nutrients – some that the body needs in larger amounts and others that it needs in smaller amounts.”
“They kept the cells in dishes with nutrients to help them naturally grow, divide and move.”
Borrowed from Latin nūtriēns, present participle of nūtriō (“I suckle, nourish, foster”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.