vitamin
//ˈvɪt.ə.mɪn//
Forms
- Plural
- vitamins
Definitions
1.preceding a word or its initial letter, to imply that the referent benefits health or wellness(informal)
- Oranges are rich in vitamin C.
2.Any of a specific group of organic compounds essential in small quantities for healthy human growth, metabolism, development, and body function. They are found in minute amounts in plant and animal foods or sometimes produced synthetically, and deficiencies of specific vitamins produce specific disorders.
- Oranges are rich in vitamin C.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4176
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
First use appears c.
1920, originally vitamine (1912), from Latin vīta (“life”) (see vital) + amine (see amino acids).