carbohydrate

noun

car·​bo·​hy·​drate ˌkär-bō-ˈhī-ˌdrāt 

-drət

: 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

Examples of carbohydrate in a Sentence

a food that is low in protein but high in carbohydrate

Recent Examples on the Web

Participants in the study were given meals containing the same amount and type of carbohydrates, and researchers measured their blood glucose after eating. — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Milk contains protein and carbohydrates, which slow digestion, prolonging the presence of water in the body. — Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026

Dietary fiber refers to carbohydrates your body can’t digest. — Jean Liew, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

For people with diabetes, carbohydrates and sugars can’t be properly balanced by insulin, causing sugars to build up in the blood instead of entering the cells to provide energy. — Rachael Zimlich, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing carbohydrate

• complex carbohydrate

Rhymes for carbohydrate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

carbohydrate

noun

car·​bo·​hy·​drate ˌkär-bō-ˈhī-ˌdrāt 

-drət

: any of various compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (as sugars, starches, or celluloses) most of which are formed by plants and are a major animal food

Medical Definition

carbohydrate

noun

car·​bo·​hy·​drate -ˌdrāt, -drət 

: 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