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carbohydrate

 - 6 dictionary results

car⋅bo⋅hy⋅drate

[kahr-boh-hahy-dreyt, -buh-]
–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:
1865–70; carbo- + hydrate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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car·bo·hy·drate   (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. These compounds are produced by photosynthetic plants and contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, usually in the ratio 1:2:1.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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carbohydrate 
1869, from carbo- "carbon" + hydrate, denoting compound produced when certain substances combine with water.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: car·bo·hy·drate
Pronunciation: -"drAt, -dr&t
Function: noun
: any of various neutral compounds of carbon, hydrogen, andoxygen (as sugars, starches, and celluloses) most of which are formed by green plants and which constitute a major class of animal foods
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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carbohydrate car·bo·hy·drate (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.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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carbohydrate   (kär'bō-hī'drāt')  Pronunciation Key 
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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