Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
carbohydrates - 4 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
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.

carbohydrates

Substances composed of long chains of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon molecules. Sugar, starch, and cellulose are all carbohydrates. In the human body, carbohydrates play a major role in respiration; in plants, they are important in photosynthesis.

Note: Carbohydrates in food provide energy for the body and, if present in excess, are stored as fat.
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.
Search another word or see carbohydrates on Thesaurus | Reference
>