carbohydrate
English
Etymology
From their general formula Cn(H2O)n; they were once thought to be hydrates of carbon.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /kɑːbəʊˈhaɪdɹeɪt/
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Audio (US): (file)
Noun
carbohydrate (plural carbohydrates)
- (organic chemistry, nutrition) A sugar, starch, or cellulose that is a food source of energy for an animal or plant.
- Synonyms: (informal) carb, saccharide; see also Thesaurus:carbohydrate
- These microbes are primarily responsible for breaking down cellulose and other carbohydrates into volatile fatty acids (VFAs).
- 2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:
- Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis: the ability to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and waste oxygen using solar energy.
- (colloquial, by extension, metonymically) Any food rich in starch or other carbohydrates.
- I'm cutting down on carbohydrates like bread and pasta.
Derived terms
Translations
organic compounds such as sugar, starch or cellulose
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Further reading
- carbohydrate on Wikipedia.Wikipedia