nutrient
adjective
nu·tri·ent
| \ ˈnü-trē-ənt
, ˈnyü-\
, ˈnyü-\
Definition of nutrient
(Entry 1 of 2)
: furnishing nourishment
nutrient
nounDefinition of nutrient (Entry 2 of 2)
: a substance or ingredient that promotes growth, provides energy, and maintains life
Tomatoes contain a lot of nutrients, among them vitamins C and B-complex and the minerals iron and potassium. — Mayo Clinic Health Letter Most frugivores do not depend exclusively on fruits, because fruits tend to be deficient in certain nutrients such as protein, and because they are only seasonally available.— Robert Lee Smith Sandy soils need organic amendments to help them retain nutrients and water, which otherwise leach out quickly. — Sunset
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Synonyms & Antonyms for nutrient
Synonyms: Adjective
nourishing, nutritional, nutritious, nutritive
Antonyms: Adjective
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Examples of nutrient in a Sentence
Adjective
a breakfast drink enriched with nutrient proteins and vitaminsNoun
Fruits and vegetables have important nutrients. The soil is low in nutrients. You need more nutrients in your diet.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Plus, high water volume foods are almost always more nutrient-dense, like unsweetened dairy products (Greek yogurt, milk) or produce (especially melons, carrots, zucchini, and tomatoes). — Jaclyn London, Ms, Rd, Cdn, Good Housekeeping, "Everything You Need to Know About Weight Watchers' New Kurbo App for Kids," 17 Aug. 2019 The bakery also works with a local farm to incorporate chemical-free, nutrient-dense, seasonal produce into every meal. — Gerry Frank, oregonlive.com, "3 Estacada eateries worth a visit: Gerry Frank’s picks," 11 Aug. 2019 More upwelling means more nutrient resupply, which means more biological activity, researchers say. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, "Exoplanets could have better conditions for life than Earth, study says," 23 Aug. 2019 This warm, nutrient-poor environment from the blob and El Niño was unlivable for whatever kelp wasn’t ravaged by the sea urchins. — Richie Hertzberg, National Geographic, "California's disappearing sea snails carry a grim climate warning," 20 Aug. 2019 Bone meal was a traditional nutrient people used to put at the bottom of planting areas to provide phosphorous to bulbs. — Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, "It’s almost time to plant spring bulbs: Tulips, daffodils and ... garlic?," 15 Aug. 2019 This breakfast hits the macro-nutrient goals of protein, whole grain and healthful fats, and the fruit adds vitamins. — Melissa Rayworth, Houston Chronicle, "Healthful breakfast on a busy school morning? It’s not so hard," 14 Aug. 2019 Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for photosynthesis and growth, so returning as much of it to the tree as possible before a leaf falls helps ensure that the plant is well-stocked for next year’s cycle. — Emily Toomey, Smithsonian, "Watch Leaves Change Color in a Matter of Seconds," 14 Aug. 2019 Sometimes these nutrient-containing additions have to be decomposed or converted to the way plants can absorb or remove it from the soil or water. — Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, "Summer is a good time to add sod — in sunny spots," 10 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Similarly, other research points to deficiencies of some nutrients, like vitamin B12, may be linked to a higher risk of stroke, said Tong. — Nina Avramova, CNN, "Vegetarians might have higher risk of stroke than meat eaters, study says," 4 Sep. 2019 Plus, pumpkin seeds are nutritional powerhouses, with about 7 grams of protein per quarter-cup serving, along with meaningful amounts of nutrients, like zinc, magnesium, and iron. — Samantha Cassetty, NBC News, "Back to school: 9 lower-sugar snacks and treats for kids you can feel good about," 21 Aug. 2019 Scientists predict climate change will do just that, because extra CO2 increases the availability of nutrients, like nitrogen, essential to algal growth. — Katie Camero, Science | AAAS, "Ocean acidification could boost shell growth in marine life like snails and sea urchins," 23 July 2019 More Spirits Science Yule marble is a metamorphized limestone, which makes for a perfect filtration system, adding a bit of natural minerality (nutrients that add to the final taste) into our spirits. — Connie Baker, Popular Mechanics, "This Zero-Waste Distillery Saves 4 Million Gallons of Water Per Year—and Still Makes Delicious Stuff," 9 June 2019 The dairy aisle is crowded with milk alternatives made with cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, oat, rice, hemp, pea, and bananas, many with sweetened or vanilla-flavored variations and fortified with extra nutrients. — Chicago Tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Daywatch: No signs of ICE raids for now, blockbuster federal indictments against R. Kelly and other things to know to start your day," 15 July 2019 The company’s protein product is made by altering sections of the DNA sequence of food-grade yeast such that the microorganisms, once fed with certain nutrients, produce several key proteins found in milk, including casein and whey. — Chase Purdy, Quartz, "The next big ice cream aisle addition will be dairy-free…kind of," 11 July 2019 HABs can occur in warm fresh, marine or brackish waters with abundant nutrients and are becoming more frequent with climate change. — CBS News, "All of Mississippi's beaches have been closed for swimming due to toxic algae," 7 July 2019 Tropical Sargassum blooms appear to have flourished in years when the central Atlantic Ocean was rife with nutrients, satellite records indicate. — Katie Langin, Science | AAAS, "This is the world’s largest patch of seaweed. And it’s growing in an unexpected place," 4 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nutrient.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for nutrient
nutrient
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of nutrient
technical
: a substance that plants, animals, and people need to live and grow
See the full definition for nutrient in the English Language Learners Dictionary
nutrient
noun
nu·tri·ent
| \ ˈnü-trē-ənt
, ˈnyü-\
, ˈnyü-\
Kids Definition of nutrient
: a substance that is needed for healthy growth, development, and functioning
Fruits and vegetables have important nutrients. Plants get nutrients from the soil.
nutrient
adjective
nu·tri·ent
| \ ˈn(y)ü-trē-ənt
\
\
Medical Definition of nutrient
(Entry 1 of 2)
: furnishing nourishment
nutrient
nounMedical Definition of nutrient (Entry 2 of 2)
: a nutritive substance or ingredient