English

nutrient

gb/nˈutɹiənt/ us/nˈutɹiənt/
B1 English
~ 4200
Senses
0 senses
Noun B1 entity
1

Substance in food for health

Something in food that helps your body grow and stay healthy.

Usage pattern: [something] contains [nutrient]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'nutrient' with 'nutrition'. 'Nutrient' is the substance, while 'nutrition' is the process or state of being nourished.
Synonyms
food component (A broader term that includes both nutrients and non-nutritive elements of food.) | dietary element (More formal or technical, often used in nutrition science.)
Antonyms
toxin (A harmful substance, in contrast to a beneficial nutrient.)
Collocations
essential nutrient |nutrient intake |nutrient content |nutrient deficiency |nutrient absorption
Themes
health |nutrition |science |food_drink |core_vocabulary
Examples
  • Fruits and vegetables are rich in essential nutrients.
  • Calcium is an important nutrient for strong bones.
  • The soil in this area lacks certain nutrients needed for crops.
  • Protein is a key nutrient for muscle repair.
  • Many breakfast cereals are fortified with extra nutrients.
Learner examples
  • Milk has many nutrients.
  • We need nutrients to live.
  • Fish is a good source of nutrients.
  • Rice gives us some nutrients.
  • Plants take nutrients from the soil.
Grammar
Dictionary form
nutrient
IPA
GB/nˈutɹiənt/
US/nˈutɹiənt/
Syllables & stress
nu - tri - ent (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (nu)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: nutrient
  • Plural: nutrients
Word family
Forms
nutrients noun
Core family
nutrition noun B1 nutritious adjective B2 nutritional adjective B2 nourish verb B2
Related words
nourishment noun B2 nourishing adjective nutritionist noun
Negative and opposite forms
malnutrition noun B2 malnourished adjective undernourished adjective
Advanced or less common
nutritionally adverb nutritive adjective
Expressions

essential nutrient

1
/ɪsˈɛnʃəl nˈutɹiənt/
fixed phrase

Nutrient body must get from diet

A substance your body needs to live and be healthy but cannot make itself.

Examples
  • Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that must come from food.
  • Proteins contain essential nutrients that help the body grow.

nutrient deficiency

1
/nˈutɹiənt dɪfˈɪʃənsi/
fixed phrase

Lack of needed nutrients

When your body does not have enough of an important nutrient.

Examples
  • Iron deficiency is a common nutrient deficiency worldwide.
  • Poor diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies.

nutrient-rich

1
/nˈutɹiənt ɹˈɪt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase

High in nutrients

Having a lot of healthy substances for the body.

Examples
  • Spinach is a nutrient-rich vegetable.
  • They switched to a more nutrient-rich diet.

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