carbohydrate

[ kahr-boh-hahy-dreyt, -buh- ]
/ ˌkɑr boʊˈhaɪ dreɪt, -bə- /

noun

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.

Origin of carbohydrate

First recorded in 1865–70; carbo- + hydrate

OTHER WORDS FROM carbohydrate

non·car·bo·hy·drate, noun

Words nearby carbohydrate

carbobenzoxy, carbocholine, carbocyclic, carbocyclic compound, carbohydrase, carbohydrate, carbohydrate loading, carbohydrate-induced hyperlipemia, carbohydrates, carbohydraturia, carbolated

Words related to carbohydrates

sugar, starch, lactose, glucose, cellulose, galactose, glycogen, monosaccharide, disaccharide, sucrose, maltose, fructose, dextrose, dextrin, polysaccharide

Example sentences from the Web for carbohydrates

British Dictionary definitions for carbohydrates

carbohydrate
/ (ˌkɑːbəʊˈhaɪdreɪt) /

noun

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 term: carb

Medical definitions for carbohydrates

carbohydrate
[ kär′bō-hī′drāt′ ]

n.

Any of a group of organic compounds that includes sugars, starches, celluloses, and gums and serves as a major energy source in the diet of animals; they are produced by photosynthetic plants and contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, usually in the ratio 1:2:1.

Scientific definitions for carbohydrates

carbohydrate
[ kär′bō-hī′drāt′ ]

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.

Cultural definitions for carbohydrates

carbohydrates

Substances composed of long chains of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon molecules. Sugar, starch, and cellulose are all carbohydrates. In the human body, carbohydrates play a major role in respiration; in plants, they are important in photosynthesis.

notes for carbohydrates

Carbohydrates in food provide energy for the body and, if present in excess, are stored as fat.