nutrients - Master This Word
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nutrients Word Meanings
- a substance that provides nourishment
- essential for growth and maintenance of life
- any nutrient that organisms need to survive
nutrients Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
nutrients Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈnjuː.tri.ənt/
US
/ˈnuː.tri.ənt/
nutrients Word Etymology
nutri- = nourish + -ent = forming. Origin: Latin 'nutriens' → Old French → English. Imagine a plant thriving, receiving all the nutrients from the soil, representing growth and vitality.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
A nutrient is a substance that provides nourishment and is essential for growth and maintenance of life. In biology and nutrition, nutrients include macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, as well as micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. People talk about nutrients in foods, soils, and ecosystems, noting that different organisms require a variety of nutrients to function, repair tissue, reproduce, and stay healthy. The term also appears in agriculture and medicine when discussing nutrient deficiencies or fortification. Note that nutrient is different from nutrition (the process of obtaining nutrients) and from nutritious (describing food). The etymology comes from Latin nutrīens 'nourishing' and Old French, hinting at nourishment and vitality.
Usage Reminders
- Remember the difference between nutrient and nutrition. Know the main nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals). Use phrases like nutrient-rich and nutrient deficiency. Check labels for nutrient content. Practice with foods, soils, and ecosystems.
Common Misconceptions
- Nutrient and nutrition are the same thing (nutrient is a substance, nutrition is a process/field).
- All nutrients come only from animal foods.
- Every nutrient is equally important for every organism.
- Nutrients are only vitamins and minerals.
- A nutrient-rich label means the food is automatically healthy.
Thinking Differences
For English speakers, nutrient is a concrete noun used mainly in science and food contexts; learners often mix it with nutrition (the process or field) or with nutritious (describing food).
Learning Tips
- Build a mini-glossary: nutrient, nutrition, nutritious.
- Group nutrients into macronutrients and micronutrients.
- Use 'nutrient deficiency' and 'nutrient-rich' in sentences.
- Read food labels to spot listed nutrients.
- Relate nutrients to everyday foods (fruits, grains, vegetables).
- Practice with ecosystems: soil nutrients support plant growth.
Related Listening
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