carbohydrate

noun car·bo·hy·drate \ -ˌdrāt , -drət \

Definition of carbohydrate

:any of various neutral compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (such as sugars, starches, and celluloses) most of which are formed by green plants and which constitute a major class of animal foods

See carbohydrate defined for English-language learners

See carbohydrate defined for kids

Examples of carbohydrate in a Sentence

a food that is low in protein but high in carbohydrate

Recent Examples of carbohydrate from the Web

Per serving: 288 calories (30 percent from fat), 9.7 g fat (1.9 g saturated, 3 g monounsaturated), no cholesterol, 6.2 g protein, 44.3 g carbohydrates, 4.7 g fiber, 9 mg sodium.

— linda gassenheimer, miamiherald, "Pork tenderloin gets a zesty boost from peach salsa," 22 Aug. 2017
Per serving, without beurre blanc: 325 calories (61 percent from fat), 21 grams total fat (11 grams saturated), 106 milligrams cholesterol, 7 grams carbohydrates, 24 grams protein, 799 milligrams sodium, 2 grams dietary fiber.

— mary g. pepitone, kansascity, "Salmon dish is a delicious reminder of happy days in Paris," 22 Aug. 2017
The researchers found that the muscle tissue of the fish contains two types of enzymes that funnel carbohydrates to mitochondria, the cellular powerhouses where energy is produced, according to a press release.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "How Do Goldfish Survive Winter? They Make Alcohol," 14 Aug. 2017
Dr. David Cooper, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and his colleagues, including Tector, have used gene editing and cloning to make pigs without the carbohydrates on the surfaces of their organs.

— gina kolata, The Seattle Times, "Gene editing spurs hope for transplanting pig organs into humans," 10 Aug. 2017
Lewis, who is now 58, resolved both issues by incorporating complex carbohydrates into every meal and getting his filling replaced.

— ryan cross, Science | AAAS, "‘Scientific wellness’ study—and a famed biologist’s spinoff company—divide researchers," 19 July 2017
This means that easily degradable components in fresh poo (carbohydrates, proteins and sugars) are broken down, leaving behind more stable ones.

— naomi deering, Smithsonian, "How Fake, Lab-Made Poop Can Improve Sanitation," 12 July 2017
Nutritional analysis per 1-tablespoon serving: 121 calories, 14 grams fat, 9 grams carbohydrates, trace protein, no cholesterol, 15 milligrams sodium, trace dietary fiber, 98 percent of calories from fat.

— ellise pierce, star-telegram, "Summer cherries, apricots and peaches ... oh, my!," 4 July 2017
Per serving: 329 calories, 28 g fat, 7 g saturated fat, 39 mg cholesterol, 8 g carbohydrates, 1 g sugar, 12 g protein, 942 mg sodium, 2 g fiber Yield: 12 servings.

— james p. dewan, charlotteobserver, "Anything can be coleslaw if you know what you’re doing," 3 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'carbohydrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of carbohydrate

1851

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

CARBOHYDRATE Defined for English Language Learners

carbohydrate

noun

Definition of carbohydrate for English Language Learners

: any one of various substances found in certain foods (such as bread, rice, and potatoes) that provide your body with heat and energy and are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

CARBOHYDRATE Defined for Kids

carbohydrate

noun car·bo·hy·drate \ ˌkär-bō-ˈhī-ˌdrāt \

Definition of carbohydrate for Students

:a substance (as a starch or sugar) that is rich in energy and is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Medical Dictionary

carbohydrate

noun car·bo·hy·drate \ -ˌdrāt, -drət \

medical Definition of carbohydrate

:any of various neutral compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (as sugars, starches, and celluloses) most of which are formed by green plants and which constitute a major class of animal foods