Library / English Dictionary

CAROTENOID

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of a class of highly unsaturated yellow to red pigments occurring in plants and animals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("carotenoid" is a kind of...):

antioxidant (substance that inhibits oxidation or inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen or peroxides)

phytochemical (a chemical substance obtained from plants that is biologically active but not nutritive)

pigment (dry coloring material (especially a powder to be mixed with a liquid to produce paint, etc.))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "carotenoid"):

carotene (yellow or orange-red fat-soluble pigments in plants)

lycopene (carotenoid that makes tomatoes red; may lower the risk of prostate cancer)

beta-carotene (an isomer of carotene that is found in dark green and dark yellow fruits and vegetables)

lutein; xanthophyl; xanthophyll (yellow carotenoid pigments in plants and animal fats and egg yolks)

zeaxanthin (yellow carotenoid (isomeric with lutein and occurs widely with it) that is the main pigment in yellow Indian corn)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Carotenoid consisting of a cyclic structure on each end with additional double bonds at the number 5 and 5' carbon atoms of the cyclic structures.

(Beta-Carotene, NCI Thesaurus/CRCH)

This class of agents includes the vitamins C and E, the carotenoids, and selenium.

(Antioxidant, NCI Thesaurus)

It also facilitates production of a group of apocarotenoids—organic chemicals derived from carotenoids including vitamin A precursors—that work as signaling molecules influencing a variety of responses in plants including environmental stresses.

(Tomato Pan-Genome Makes Bringing Flavor Back Easier, Agricultural Research Service)

The oils produced by certain species are very often rich in compounds like Omega 3 and carotenoids.

(Brazilian researchers identify microalgae that can provide biofuels, Agência Brasil)

Carbon C 13 labeled lycopene used as a tracer for carotenoid metabolism studies in vivo.

(Carbon C 13 Lycopene, NCI Thesaurus)

Carotenoid consisting of a cyclic structure on each end with additional double bonds at the number 5 and 4' carbon atoms of the cyclic structures.

(Alpha-carotene, NCI Thesaurus/CRCH)

Carotenoid having a chemical structure similar to beta-carotene with carbonyl (C=O) functions at the number 4 and 4' carbon atoms.

(Canthaxanthin, NCI Thesaurus/CRCH)

Carotenoid having a chemical structure similar to alpha-carotene with addition of hydroxyl groups at the number 3 and 3' carbon atoms.

(Lutein, NCI Thesaurus/CRCH)

Carotenoid having a chemical structure similar to beta-carotene with hydroxyl groups at the number 3 and 3' carbon atoms and carbonyl (C=O) functions at the number 4 and 4' carbon atoms.

(Astaxanthin, NCI Thesaurus/CRCH)

Carotenoid having a chemical structure similar to beta-carotene with addition of a hydroxyl group at the number 3 carbon atom.

(Beta-cryptoxanthin, NCI Thesaurus/CRCH)