carbohydrate

[ kahr-boh-hahy-dreyt, -buh- ]

noun

1. any of a class of organic compounds that are polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones, or change to such substances on simple chemical transformations, as hydrolysis, oxidation, or reduction, and that form the supporting tissues of plants and are important food for animals and people.

carbohydrate

/ ˌkɑːbəʊˈhaɪdreɪt /

noun

1. any of a large group of organic compounds, including sugars, such as sucrose, and polysaccharides, such as cellulose, glycogen, and starch, that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with the general formula C m (H 2 O) n: an important source of food and energy for animals Informal termcarb

carbohydrate

/ kär′bō-hī′drāt′ /

1. Any of a large class of organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, usually with twice as many hydrogen atoms as carbon or oxygen atoms. Carbohydrates are produced in green plants by photosynthesis and serve as a major energy source in animal diets. Sugars, starches, and cellulose are all carbohydrates.

Other Word Forms

• noncar·bo·hydrate noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of carbohydrate¹

First recorded in 1865–70; carbo- + hydrate

Example Sentences

He started counting every “macro” — or macronutrient of proteins, carbohydrates and fats — that went into his body, adding thousands of calories of canola oil to his smoothies so he could put on weight.

From Salon

The fly's attraction both to the carbohydrates and yeast in rotting fruit, as well as to the alcohol, cannot be separated, he added.

From BBC

Alcohol is a toxin; it forces your body to prioritize its metabolism over that of nutrients, which means the body reduces the use of carbohydrates and fat for energy.

From Salon

Breakfast cereal, fruit, wholegrains, carbohydrates, fibre and vitamin C also showed they lowered the risk of the cancer, but only slightly.

From BBC

For example, the cell walls of plants provide structural strength and are rich in fiber, while their energy vesicles store carbohydrates.

From Salon

Related Words

• cellulose
• glucose
• lactose
• starch
• sugar