Definitions for vitaminˈvaɪ tə mɪn; Brit. also ˈvɪt ə-; -mɪn, -ˌmin
any of a group of organic substances essential in small quantities to normal metabolism, found in minute amounts in natural foodstuffs and also produced synthetically: deficiencies of vitamins produce specific disorders.
Category: Biochemistry, Nutrition
Origin of vitamin:
1912; earlier vitamine < L vīt(a) life +amine ; coined by Casimir Funk (1884–1967), U.S. biochemist, who thought they were amines
any of a group of organic substances essential in small quantities to normal metabolism
Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary
vitamin(noun)ˈvaɪ tə mɪn; Brit. also ˈvɪt ə-
a substance contained in food needed by your body to be healthy
the vitamins found in green vegetables
Any of a specific group of organic compounds essential in small quantities for healthy human growth, metabolism, development, and body function; found in minute amounts in plant and animal foods or sometimes produced synthetically; deficiencies of specific vitamins produce specific disorders.
Origin: 1920, originally vitamine (1912), from vita (see vital) + amine (see amino acid). Vitamine coined by Polish biochemist after the initial discovery of aberic acid (thiamine), when it was thought that all such nutrients would be amines. The term had become ubiquitous by the time it was discovered that vitamin C, among others, had no amine component. In 1920, British biochemist proposed that the final -e be dropped to deemphasize the amine reference. The ending -in was acceptable because it was used for neutral substances of undefined composition. Drummond introduced the lettering system of nomenclature (Vitamin A, B, C, etc.) also at this same time.