Nutrient Definition, Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：nourishing substance (nutrient)

nutrient 🔊

/ˈnuːtriənt/

Something in food that your body needs to grow and stay healthy, like fuel for a car.

Nutrient illustration in a healthy meal bowl with rice, chicken, and vegetables highlighted.

nourishing substance 🔊

➕

/ˈnɜːrɪʃɪŋ ˈsʌbstəns/

A component found in food and drink that is absorbed and utilized by the body to sustain life, support growth, and maintain health. Examples include vitamins, minerals, proteins, and carbohydrates.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'nutrient-', meaning 'nourishing', from the verb 'nutrire' (to nourish).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'NEW TREE ANT' needing food; a nutrient is what nourishes new growth.

📖 Example

A balanced breakfast provides the essential nutrients your body needs to start the day full of energy. 🔊 A balanced breakfast supplies the necessary nourishing substances required by your body to begin the day energetically.

🔗 Collocations

essential nutrients – nutrients that the body cannot produce on its own and must be obtained from the diet

soil nutrients – minerals and organic matter in soil that plants absorb for growth

nutrient absorption – the process by which nutrients are taken into the body's tissues from the digestive tract

🔄 Synonyms

nourishment (n.) – The food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.

sustenance (n.) – Food and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment.

nutrition (n.) – The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth; can also refer to the food constituents themselves.

🚫 Antonyms

toxin (n.) – A poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms.

poison (n.) – A substance that causes illness or death when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed.

🌱 Derivatives

nutritious (adj.) – Full of nutrients; efficient as food; nourishing.

nutrition (n.) – The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.

📖 Cultural Story

The word originates from Latin 'nutrire', meaning 'to suckle, feed, foster'. It entered English in the 17th century, originally describing that which nourishes. Its scientific use boomed with modern biology and dietetics, central to discussions on health, agriculture, and environmental science, reflecting a shift to understanding food at a molecular level.