Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of a class of yellow to red pigments, including the carotenes and the xanthophylls.
  • adjective Of or relating to such a pigment.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun organic chemistry Any of a class of yellow to red plant pigments including the carotenes and xanthophylls.
  • adjective organic chemistry Of, or relating to such a class of pigments.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any of a class of highly unsaturated yellow to red pigments occurring in plants and animals

Etymologies

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Examples

  • He was soon drawn deeply into studies of how the small variations in carotenoid structures are involved in biological functions.

    Richard Kuhn and the Chemical Institute: Double Bonds and Biological Mechanisms 2010

  • It starts with shorter days, which triggers a whole series of processes, says Ed Hedborn, a botanist who manages plant records at the Morton Arboretum outside Chicago in Lisle, Ill. With less daylight, trees and other plants stop making chlorophyll, whose absence unmasks the yellow, orange and brown hues of the pigment carotenoid, which is always in the leaves, but hidden by the green.

    Fall in the Midwest: Colors are subtle but lasting 2010

  • Carotenoids are a group of over 600 compounds known as the carotenoid pigments.

    Wil's Ebay E-Store 2010

  • Hey, protection from free-radical damage all day long -- can't beat that, especially when it comes to one type of cancer: OJ contains something called carotenoid cryptoxanthin, and it's associated with a 15-31 percent reduced lung cancer risk.

    That's Fit 2008

  • TomatoesOne of the nutritional highlights of this fruit is the 'carotenoid' nutrient lycopene, which research links with protection from conditions such as heart disease and cancer.

    What's in your basket, Joan Jett? 2010

  • TomatoesTomatoes are rich in a so-called "carotenoid" nutrient, which has links to a reduced risk of heart disease.

    What's in your basket, Gael García Bernal? Dr John Briffa 2010

  • Since birds with a high parasite load cannot store as much carotenoid pigments, their colouring is not as brilliant as that of healthier individuals.

    Mystery bird: scarlet ibis, Eudocimus ruber 2011

  • Since birds with a high parasite load cannot store as much carotenoid pigments, their colouring is not as brilliant as that of healthier individuals.

    Mystery bird: scarlet ibis, Eudocimus ruber 2011

  • Kale is an incredibly rich source of immune-boosting carotenoid and flavanoid antioxidants, as well as vitamins A and C.

    Organic Authority.com: 7 Reasons Kale Is the New Beef Organic Authority.com 2011

  • Computer Eye Strain Formula, a daily supplement sold by EyeScience Labs LLC of Columbus, Ohio, contains astaxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are carotenoid antioxidants in the same family as those found in carrots.

    Tired Eyes? A Look at 4 Remedies Laura Johannes 2011

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