vitamin A


noun
  1. a yellow, fat-soluble, solid terpene alcohol, C20H30O, obtained from carotene and occurring in green and yellow vegetables, egg yolk, etc.: essential to growth, the protection of epithelial tissue, and the prevention of night blindness.

Origin of vitamin A

1
First recorded in 1920–25

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British Dictionary definitions for vitamin A

vitamin A

noun
  1. a fat-soluble yellow unsaturated alcohol occurring in green and yellow vegetables (esp carrots), butter, egg yolk, and fish-liver oil (esp halibut oil). It is essential for the prevention of night blindness and the protection of epithelial tissue. Formula: C 20 H 30 O: Also called: vitamin A 1, retinol

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for vitamin A

vitamin A

  1. A fat-soluble vitamin important for normal vision, tissue growth, and healthy skin. It is found in fish-liver oils, milk, green leafy vegetables, and red, orange, and yellow vegetables and fruits. A deficiency of vitamin A in humans causes poor vision at night and damage to the skin and mucous membranes. Also called retinol. Chemical formula: C20H30O.

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