Definitions for Vitamin
ˈvaɪ tə mɪn; Brit. also ˈvɪt ə-; -mɪn, -ˌminvi·ta·min

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. vitaminnoun

   any of a group of organic substances essential in small quantities to normal metabolism

GCIDERate this definition:3.7 / 3 votes

1. Vitaminnoun

   any of several organic chemical substances not synthesized by an animal and required in small quantities for normal metabolism, present in and obtained from the natural foods eaten by the animal. Human vitamins are also produced synthetically, and taken in pure form or in mixtures, as dietary supplements. Deficiencies of specific vitamins lead to certain specific disorders, such as scurvy, caused by an insufficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Most vitamins act as coenzymes or precursors to coenzymes, and are not consumed for energy production or incorporated into structural units of the cell.

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. vitaminnoun

   Any of a specific group of organic compounds essential in small quantities for healthy human growth, metabolism, development, and body function; found in minute amounts in plant and animal foods or sometimes produced synthetically; deficiencies of specific vitamins produce specific disorders.

2. Etymology: 1920, originally vitamine (1912), from vita (see vital) + amine (see amino acid). Vitamine coined by Polish biochemist after the initial discovery of aberic acid (thiamine), when it was thought that all such nutrients would be amines. The term had become ubiquitous by the time it was discovered that vitamin C, among others, had no amine component. In 1920, British biochemist proposed that the final -e be dropped to deemphasize the amine reference. The ending -in was acceptable because it was used for neutral substances of undefined composition. Drummond introduced the lettering system of nomenclature (Vitamin A, B, C, etc.) also at this same time.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Vitamin

   A vitamin is an organic molecule (or a set of molecules closely related chemically, i.e. vitamers) that is an essential micronutrient that an organism needs in small quantities for the proper functioning of its metabolism. Essential nutrients cannot be synthesized in the organism, either at all or not in sufficient quantities, and therefore must be obtained through the diet. Vitamin C can be synthesized by some species but not by others; it is not a vitamin in the first instance but is in the second. The term vitamin does not include the three other groups of essential nutrients: minerals, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids. Most vitamins are not single molecules, but groups of related molecules called vitamers. For example, there are eight vitamers of vitamin E: four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Some sources list fourteen vitamins, by including choline, but major health organizations list thirteen: vitamin A (as all-trans-retinol, all-trans-retinyl-esters, as well as all-trans-beta-carotene and other provitamin A carotenoids), vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid or folate), vitamin B12 (cobalamins), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin D (calciferols), vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols), and vitamin K (phylloquinone and menaquinones).Vitamins have diverse biochemical functions. Vitamin A acts as a regulator of cell and tissue growth and differentiation. Vitamin D provides a hormone-like function, regulating mineral metabolism for bones and other organs. The B complex vitamins function as enzyme cofactors (coenzymes) or the precursors for them. Vitamins C and E function as antioxidants. Both deficient and excess intake of a vitamin can potentially cause clinically significant illness, although excess intake of water-soluble vitamins is less likely to do so. All vitamins were discovered (identified) between 1913 and 1948. Historically, when intake of vitamins from diet was lacking, the results were vitamin deficiency diseases. Then, starting in 1935, commercially produced tablets of yeast-extract vitamin B complex and semi-synthetic vitamin C became available. This was followed in the 1950s by the mass production and marketing of vitamin supplements, including multivitamins, to prevent vitamin deficiencies in the general population. Governments have mandated the addition of some vitamins to staple foods such as flour or milk, referred to as food fortification, to prevent deficiencies. Recommendations for folic acid supplementation during pregnancy reduced risk of infant neural tube defects.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. vitamin

   A vitamin is a type of organic compound that an organism requires in small quantities for normal growth and development, but cannot synthesize on its own and must therefore obtain from its diet. They are essential nutrients because they perform various roles, such as aiding enzymatic reactions, maintaining metabolic functions, and supporting immune health. Deficiencies or excesses of vitamins can lead to various disorders and diseases.

WikidataRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. Vitamin

   A vitamin is an organic compound required by an organism as a vital nutrient in limited amounts. An organic chemical compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Thus, the term is conditional both on the circumstances and on the particular organism. For example, ascorbic acid is a vitamin for humans, but not for most other animals, and biotin and vitamin D are required in the human diet only in certain circumstances. By convention, the term vitamin includes neither other essential nutrients, such as dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids nor the large number of other nutrients that promote health but are otherwise required less often. Thirteen vitamins are universally recognized at present. Vitamins are classified by their biological and chemical activity, not their structure. Thus, each "vitamin" refers to a number of vitamer compounds that all show the biological activity associated with a particular vitamin. Such a set of chemicals is grouped under an alphabetized vitamin "generic descriptor" title, such as "vitamin A", which includes the compounds retinal, retinol, and four known carotenoids. Vitamers by definition are convertible to the active form of the vitamin in the body, and are sometimes inter-convertible to one another, as well.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. vitamin

   A type of matter naturally produced by the body of a human being, animal or living organism.

   Vitamins are created and produced naturally by nature and occur naturally within the body.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 28, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Nutriment

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Vitamin' in Nouns Frequency: #2538

How to pronounce Vitamin?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Vitamin in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Vitamin in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Vitamin in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of Vitamin in a Sentence

1. Robin Foroutan:

   I don’t want to say that if somebody is depressed it’s because of a vitamin deficiency.

2. Simon Mays:

   Our study shows that vitamin D deficiency is far from being a new problem -- even 2,000 years ago people, especially babies, were at risk.

3. Keith West:

   In countries where the food system is less sophisticated and we see crushing poverty, the margin between harvest season and hungry season is palpable, these populations can dip into actual deficiency with Vitamin A, especially in respect to young, growing children who can become what we call ‘night blind.'.

4. Amy Kimberlain:

   Some of the alternative milks are not fortified with calcium or vitamin D -- and the same is true for plant-based yogurts, like those made from soy, coconut or almonds, while it's great that there are alternative products available for those switching to a more vegan diet, it's important to look for the fortification of calcium and vitamin D in these products.

5. Carol Haggans:

   For some people, such as marathon runners, skiers and those in the military...[vitamin C] does seem to help reduce the chances of getting a cold.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Vitamin
2. ^ GCIDE
   https://gcide.gnu.org.ua/?q=Vitamin
3. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Vitamin
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Vitamin