noun
vitamin
VIHT-uh-mihn
noun
1
One of a group of natural compounds the body needs in small amounts to grow, function, and stay healthy.
"Citrus fruit is a good source of vitamin C."
"A lack of vitamin D can weaken your bones."
How to Use Vitamin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA nutrient your body needs in tiny amounts to stay healthy.
Common pairings
vitamin deficiency
vitamin supplement
vitamin C
Word Forms
vitamined past tense, vitamins plural, vitamins singular
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Etymology
Coined around 1912 as "vitamine" by biochemist Casimir Funk, from Latin vita ("life") + amine, since the first such compound found contained an amine group. British scientist Jack Drummond dropped the final "e" in 1920 once it became clear not all vitamins were amines.