nutrient

adjective

nu·tri·ent | \ ˈnü-trē-ənt

, ˈnyü-\

Definition of nutrient

(Entry 1 of 2)

: furnishing nourishment

nutrient

noun

Definition 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

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about nutrient

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Synonyms & Antonyms for nutrient

Synonyms: Adjective

nourishing, nutritional, nutritious, nutritive

Antonyms: Adjective

nonnutritious, nonnutritive

Examples of nutrient in a Sentence

Adjective

a breakfast drink enriched with nutrient proteins and vitamins

Noun

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

One of the world’s most nutrient-dense plants and the source of long chain omega-3s, certain algae species are now being specifically cultivated for the purpose of creating dietary supplements. — Jaclyn London, Ms, Rd, Cdn, Good Housekeeping, "The One Nutrient You Probably Aren't Getting Enough Of, According to a Nutritionist," 15 Apr. 2019 Some orthorexics begin taking large amounts of supplements, powders, and probiotics to make their food even more nutrient-dense; others stop going out socially. — Jancee Dunn, Vogue, "Is Othorexia the Eating Disorder for the Digital Age?," 14 Dec. 2018 The traditional Muckleshoot food system was incredibly nutrient-dense compared to what's available in a supermarket. — Sandy M. Fernandez, Woman's Day, "How Three Women Are Pioneering to End Hunger in the U.S.," 14 Nov. 2018 DAILY DOSE Doctors recommend these nutrient-dense foods to help facilitate mental health. — Kathleen Squires, WSJ, "Feed Your Head: Foods That Target Depression and Anxiety," 26 July 2018 But populations proliferate rapidly in warm, slow-moving, nutrient rich waters, leading to thick blankets of algae that can spread across waterways. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "A Toxic Algal Bloom Is Spreading in Florida’s Waterways," 10 July 2018 There are many steps that go into creating a successful garden, but none is as critical as establishing and maintaining healthy, nutrient-rich soil. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How to Make Compost," 4 Jan. 2019 Moving around the nutrient-dense lake water, fouled by runoff from septic tanks, ranches and sugar farms, is something like a game of hot potato. — Alex Harris, miamiherald, "Army Corps can’t promise 2016’s algae blooms won’t return, but this strategy may help," 12 July 2018 Pears contain about 100 calories and are nutrient-dense, with nearly 25 percent of your daily vitamin C needs, 6 grams of fiber, 190 mg of potassium, but no sodium or cholesterol. — Heloise, Houston Chronicle, "What are these?," 19 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Over the years, the lake also filled up with nutrients, mostly from farm and ranch run-off in the beginning, but now the polluted inflow includes a mix of urban stormwater and pollution from leaky septic tanks. — Jenny Staletovich, miamiherald, "Massive and toxic algae bloom threatens Florida coasts with another lost summer," 29 June 2018 All include vitamins and nutrients (such as calcium, iron, omega-3s, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C) that are recommended for expecting and breastfeeding moms. — Karla Walsh, Woman's Day, "The Best Breastfeeding Diet," 25 Feb. 2019 Florida's red tide algae feast on a variety of nutrients, some natural and others man-made. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "What Are Red Tides and Why Are They Getting Worse?," 14 Aug. 2018 This means the trees can absorb more nutrients and water. — National Geographic, "Meet Brian the Rescued 'Mini-Kangaroo'," 5 Apr. 2018 Under the right conditions, some of those materials can provide the perfect nutrients for microbial communities to thrive. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "What’s eating this 400-year-old painting? A whole ecosystem of microbes," 11 Dec. 2018 Microorganisms work together to break down organic materials (like leftover stems, fruit peels, and egg shells) to create a rich soil that provides lots of nutrients to all sorts of different plants. — Audrey Bruno, SELF, "How to Start Composting," 8 Jan. 2019 That's the case with brown rice versus white rice, but the former gives you more fiber and all sorts of nutrients. — Joy Bauer, Woman's Day, "How to Stay Full on Fewer Calories," 16 Aug. 2018 Dried seaweed flakes added a bit of crunch, umami and nutrients when strewn over salads, rice dishes and seafood pasta. — Florence Fabricant, New York Times, "Coming Soon to a Grocery Near You," 9 July 2018

These 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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Dictionary Entries near nutrient

Statistics for nutrient

Last Updated

25 Apr 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for nutrient

The first known use of nutrient was in 1650

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More Definitions for nutrient

nutrient

noun

English 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-\

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.