Nutrient

Nutrient is any substance that the body can use to maintain its health. In the human body, nutrients are primarily obtained through food and drink, providing the energy for function and the building blocks for growth and repair.

Types of Nutrients

Nutrients can be broadly categorized into macronutrients and micronutrients, each playing unique roles in the body's overall health and well-being.

Macronutrients

Macronutrients are nutrients that the body requires in large amounts. They include:

• Proteins: Essential for growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues. They are also involved in immune function and hormone production.
• Carbohydrates: Serve as the body's primary source of energy. They are vital for brain function and physical activity.
• Fats: Crucial for energy storage, insulation, and organ protection. Certain types of fats are involved in hormone production and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
• Water: While not often categorized as a macronutrient, water is vital for life, involved in nearly all bodily functions including digestion, absorption, transportation, and temperature regulation.

Micronutrients

Micronutrients are nutrients that the body needs in smaller amounts. They include:

• Vitamins: Organic compounds essential for normal growth and function. They are involved in numerous biological processes, including cell function, metabolism, and immune health.
• Minerals: Inorganic elements necessary for various bodily functions such as bone health, fluid balance, and muscle contraction.

Importance of Balanced Nutrition

For optimal health, it's important to consume a balanced mix of nutrients. A lack of any one nutrient can lead to malnutrition, manifesting as deficiency diseases or other health issues. Similarly, excess intake of certain nutrients can lead to health problems, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet.

Absorption and Utilization

Once consumed, nutrients are broken down through digestion into smaller components that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. The body then transports these substances to where they are needed, utilizing them for energy, growth, repair, and other metabolic processes.

Glossary of terms

• abetalipoproteinemia -  a rare inherited disorder of fat metabolism; characterized by severe deficiency of beta-lipoproteins and abnormal red blood cells (acanthocytes) and abnormally low cholesterol levels
• abo blood group system -  a classification system for the antigens of human blood; used in blood transfusion therapy; four groups are A and B and AB and O
• academic -  hypothetical or theoretical and not expected to produce an immediate or practical result; marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects; associated with academia or an academy;  an educator who works at a college or university
• acanthosis nigricans -  a skin disease characterized by dark wartlike patches in the body folds; can be benign or malignant
• acetaldehyde -  a colorless volatile water-soluble liquid aldehyde used chiefly in manufacture of acetic acid and perfumes and drugs
• acetate -  a salt or ester of acetic acid; a fabric made from fibers of cellulose acetate
• acetic acid -  a colorless pungent liquid widely used in manufacturing plastics and pharmaceuticals
• acetyl -  the organic group of acetic acid (CH3CO-)
• acetylation -  the process of introducing an acetyl group into a compound
• acid value -  (chemistry) the amount of free acid present in fat as measured by the milligrams of potassium hydroxide needed to neutralize it
• acidic -  being or containing an acid; of a solution having an excess of hydrogen atoms (having a pH of less than 7); being sour to the taste
• aconitum -  genus of poisonous plants of temperate regions of northern hemisphere with a vaulted and enlarged petal
• active site -  the part of an enzyme or antibody where the chemical reaction occurs
• activist -  advocating or engaged in activism;  a militant reformer
• adenine -  (biochemistry) purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA
• adenosine -  (biochemistry) a nucleoside that is a structural component of nucleic acids; it is present in all living cells in a combined form as a constituent of DNA and RNA and ADP and ATP and AMP
• adenosine deaminase -  an enzyme found in mammals that can catalyze the deamination of adenosine into inosine and ammonia
• adipose tissue -  a kind of body tissue containing stored fat that serves as a source of energy; it also cushions and insulates vital organs
• adrenosterone -  a steroid having androgenic activity; obtained from the cortex of the adrenal gland
• adulterant -  making impure or corrupt by adding extraneous materials;  any substance that adulterates (lessens the purity or effectiveness of a substance)
• african elephant -  an elephant native to Africa having enormous flapping ears and ivory tusks
• agriculture -  the class of people engaged in growing food; the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock; a large-scale farming enterprise; the federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy); created in 1862
• agrobiology -  the study of plant nutrition and growth especially as a way to increase crop yield
• air well -  a shaft for ventilation
• airborne -  moved or conveyed by or through air
• albumin -  a simple water-soluble protein found in many animal tissues and liquids
• alcohol -  a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent; any of a series of volatile hydroxyl compounds that are made from hydrocarbons by distillation
• alcohol abuse -  excessive use of alcohol and alcoholic drinks
• alcoholism -  habitual intoxication; prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks leading to a breakdown in health and an addiction to alcohol such that abrupt deprivation leads to severe withdrawal symptoms; an intense persistent desire to drink alcoholic beverages to excess
• aldose -  a monosaccharide sugar that contains the aldehyde group or is hemiacetal
• aldosterone -  a corticosteroid hormone that is secreted by the cortex of the adrenal gland; regulates salt (sodium and potassium) and water balance
• alginic acid -  a gum used especially as a thickener or emulsifier
• allergic rhinitis -  rhinitis caused by an allergic reaction
• alpha -  early testing stage of a software or hardware product; first in order of importance;  the 1st letter of the Greek alphabet; the beginning of a series or sequence
• alpha fetoprotein -  an abnormally large amount of this fetoprotein in the fetus can signal an abnormality of the neural tube (as spina bifida or anencephaly)
• alpha globulin -  a globulin in blood plasma or serum that is alkaline and has great electrophoretic mobility
• alternate -  occurring by turns; first one and then the other; every second one of a series; of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired; allowing a choice;  someone who takes the place of another person; verb do something in turns; go back and forth; swing back and forth between two states or conditions; exchange people temporarily to fulfill certain jobs and functions; reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action); be an understudy or alternate for a role
• alternative medicine -  the practice of medicine without the use of drugs; may involve herbal medicines or self-awareness or biofeedback or acupuncture
• aminotransferase -  a class of transferases that catalyze transamination (that transfer an amino group from an amino acid to another compound)
• amphetamine -  a central nervous system stimulant that increases energy and decreases appetite; used to treat narcolepsy and some forms of depression
• amygdalin -  a bitter cyanogenic glucoside extracted from the seeds of apricots and plums and bitter almonds
• amylase -  any of a group of proteins found in saliva and pancreatic juice and parts of plants; help convert starch to sugar
• amyloid -  resembling starch;  (pathology) a waxy translucent complex protein resembling starch that results from degeneration of tissue; a non-nitrogenous food substance consisting chiefly of starch; any substance resembling starch
• amyloidosis -  a disorder characterized by deposit of amyloid in organs or tissues; often secondary to chronic rheumatoid arthritis or tuberculosis or multiple myeloma
• anabolic steroid -  any of a group of synthetic steroid hormones used to stimulate muscle and bone growth; more than 100 have been developed and each requires a prescription to be used legally in the United States; sometimes used illicitly by athletes to increase their strength
• androgen -  male sex hormone that is produced in the testes and responsible for typical male sexual characteristics
• androsterone -  an androgenic hormone that is less active than testosterone
• animal fat -  any fat obtained from animals
• animal product -  a product made from animal material
• antibody -  any of a large variety of proteins normally present in the body or produced in response to an antigen which it neutralizes, thus producing an immune response
• antigen -  any substance (as a toxin or enzyme) that stimulates an immune response in the body (especially the production of antibodies)
• appetite -  a feeling of craving something
• arginine -  a bitter tasting amino acid found in proteins and necessary for nutrition; its absence from the diet leads to a reduced production of spermatozoa
• argos -  an ancient city in southeastern Greece; dominated the Peloponnese in the 7th century BC
• arrowroot -  white-flowered West Indian plant whose root yields arrowroot starch; a nutritive starch obtained from the root of the arrowroot plant; canna grown especially for its edible rootstock from which arrowroot starch is obtained
• arteriosclerosis -  sclerosis of the arterial walls
• arum maculatum -  common European arum with lanceolate spathe and short purple spadix; emerges in early spring; source of a starch called arum
• aspartame -  an artificial sweetener made from aspartic acid; used as a calorie-free sweetener
• aspirin -  the acetylated derivative of salicylic acid; used as an analgesic anti-inflammatory drug (trade names Bayer and Empirin) usually taken in tablet form; used as an antipyretic; slows clotting of the blood by poisoning platelets
• associated -  related to or accompanying; joined in some kind of relationship (as a colleague or ally or companion etc.)
• asthma -  respiratory disorder characterized by wheezing; usually of allergic origin
• astragalus -  large genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs of north temperate regions; largest genus in the family Leguminosae; the bone in the ankle that articulates with the leg bones to form the ankle joint
• atherosclerosis -  a stage of arteriosclerosis involving fatty deposits (atheromas) inside the arterial walls
• atopic dermatitis -  a severe form of dermatitis characterized by atopy
• atropine -  a poisonous crystalline alkaloid extracted from the nightshade family; used as an antispasmodic and to dilate the eye pupil; also administered in large amounts as an antidote for organophosphate nerve agents or organophosphate insecticides
• australia -  a nation occupying the whole of the Australian continent; aboriginal tribes are thought to have migrated from southeastern Asia 20,000 years ago; first Europeans were British convicts sent there as a penal colony; the smallest continent; between the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean
• author -  someone who originates or causes or initiates something; writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay); verb be the author of
• autotroph -  plant capable of synthesizing its own food from simple organic substances
• avidity -  a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
• babassu oil -  fatty oil from kernels of babassu nuts similar to coconut oil
• bacterial -  relating to or caused by bacteria
• bagasse -  the dry dusty pulp that remains after juice is extracted from sugar cane or similar plants
• baker -  someone who bakes bread or cake; someone who bakes commercially
• baking -  as hot as if in an oven;  cooking by dry heat in an oven; making bread or cake or pastry etc.
• balsam of peru -  dark brown syrupy balsam from the Peruvian balsam tree used especially in dressing wounds and treating certain skin diseases
• barley-sugar -  a brittle transparent candy made by melting and cooling cane sugar
• barrel -  a cylindrical container that holds liquids; a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired; any of various units of capacity; the quantity that a barrel (of any size) will hold; a bulging cylindrical shape; hollow with flat ends; verb put in barrels
• bayberry wax -  a fragrant green wax obtained from the wax myrtle and used in making candles
• beano -  a game in which numbered balls are drawn at random and players cover the corresponding numbers on their cards
• beeswax -  a yellow to brown wax secreted by honeybees to build honeycombs; verb cover with beeswax
• behaviour -  manner of acting or controlling yourself; (psychology) the aggregate of the responses or reactions or movements made by an organism in any situation; (behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people; the action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances
• benchmark -  a surveyor's mark on a permanent object of predetermined position and elevation used as a reference point; a standard by which something can be measured or judged
• bender -  a tool for bending; a pitch of a baseball that is thrown with spin so that its path curves as it approach the batter; revelry in drinking; a merry drinking party
• benzoate -  any salt or ester of benzoic acid
• bernstein -  United States conductor and composer (1918-1990)
• beta-carotene -  an isomer of carotene that is found in dark green and dark yellow fruits and vegetables
• beverage -  any liquid suitable for drinking
• bile acid -  any of the steroid acids generated in the liver and stored with bile
• biochemist -  someone with special training in biochemistry
• biochemistry -  the organic chemistry of compounds and processes occuring in organisms; the effort to understand biology within the context of chemistry
• biochip -  a microchip that uses tiny strands of DNA to latch onto and quickly recognize thousands of genes at a time; intended for use in a biological environment
• biology -  the science that studies living organisms; characteristic life processes and phenomena of living organisms; all the plant and animal life of a particular region
• biotin -  a B vitamin that aids in body growth
• bitter orange -  highly acidic orange used especially in marmalade; any of various common orange trees yielding sour or bitter fruit; used as grafting stock
• blackburn -  black-and-white North American wood warbler having an orange-and-black head and throat
• blackout -  a momentary loss of consciousness; the failure of electric power for a general region; darkness resulting from the extinction of lights (as in a city invisible to enemy aircraft); a suspension of radio or tv broadcasting; partial or total loss of memory
• bland diet -  a diet of foods that are not irritating
• bloater -  large fatty herring lightly salted and briefly smoked
• blubber -  an insulating layer of fat under the skin of whales and other large marine mammals; used as a source of oil; excess bodily weight; verb utter while crying; cry or whine with snuffling
• body weight -  the weight of a person's body
• bonbon -  a candy that usually has a center of fondant or fruit or nuts coated in chocolate
• boost -  the act of giving hope or support to someone; the act of giving a push; an increase in cost; verb give a boost to; be beneficial to; increase or raise; push or shove upward, as if from below or behind; increase; contribute to the progress or growth of
• bottled water -  drinking water (often spring water) that is put into bottles and offered for sale
• bowman -  a person who is expert in the use of a bow and arrow
• brazil -  the largest Latin American country and the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world; located in the central and northeastern part of South America; world's leading coffee exporter; three-sided tropical American nut with white oily meat and hard brown shell
• breast -  the front part of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen; either of two soft fleshy milk-secreting glandular organs on the chest of a woman; meat carved from the breast of a fowl; verb reach the summit; meet at breast level; confront bodily
• bridge -  any of various card games based on whist for four players; a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.; an upper deck where a ship is steered and the captain stands; the link between two lenses; rests on nose; a denture anchored to teeth on either side of missing teeth; a wooden support that holds the strings up; a circuit consisting of two branches (4 arms arranged in a diamond configuration) across which a meter is connected; the hard ridge that forms the upper part of the nose; something resembling a bridge in form or function; verb make a bridge across; cross over on a bridge; connect or reduce the distance between
• brown sugar -  unrefined or only partly refined sugar
• browsing -  the act of feeding by continual nibbling; reading superficially or at random
• brucine -  a bitter alkaloid poison resembling strychnine and extracted from nux vomica
• buspirone -  a drug (trade name BuSpar) designed specifically for anxiety
• butanol -  a flammable alcohol derived from butanes and used for solvents
• butanone -  colorless soluble flammable liquid ketone used as a solvent for resins and as a paint remover and in lacquers and cements and adhesives and cleaning fluids and celluloid
• butterscotch -  a hard brittle candy made with butter and brown sugar
• butyric acid -  an unpleasant smelling fatty acid found especially in butter
• caffeine -  a bitter alkaloid found in coffee and tea that is responsible for their stimulating effects
• calcium -  a white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light; the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust; an important component of most plants and animals
• calisthenics -  light exercises designed to promote general fitness; the practice of calisthenic exercises
• camouflage -  device or stratagem for concealment or deceit; fabric dyed with splotches of green and brown and black and tan; intended to make the wearer of a garment made of this fabric hard to distinguish from the background; the act of concealing the identity of something by modifying its appearance; an outward semblance that misrepresents the true nature of something; verb disguise by camouflaging; exploit the natural surroundings to disguise something
• canavanine -  an amino acid found in the jack bean
• cancer -  type genus of the family Cancridae; the fourth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about June 21 to July 22; a small zodiacal constellation in the northern hemisphere; between Leo and Gemini; (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Cancer; any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division; it may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream
• candelilla wax -  a hard brown wax that occurs as a coating on candelilla shrubs
• candied fruit -  fruit cooked in sugar syrup and encrusted with a sugar crystals
• candy cane -  a hard candy in the shape of a rod (usually with stripes)
• candy corn -  a small yellow and white candy shaped to resemble a kernel of corn
• cannibalism -  the practice of eating the flesh of your own kind
• caprylic acid -  a fatty acid having a rancid taste; found in butter and other fats and oils
• capsid -  the outer covering of protein surrounding the nucleic acid of a virus; a variety of leaf bug
• caramel -  having the color of caramel; of a moderate yellow-brown;  burnt sugar; used to color and flavor food; firm chewy candy made from caramelized sugar and butter and milk; a medium to dark tan color
• carbohydrate -  an essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals; includes simple sugars with small molecules as well as macromolecular substances; are classified according to the number of monosaccharide groups they contain
• carbonated water -  effervescent beverage artificially charged with carbon dioxide
• carboxylic acid -  an organic acid characterized by one or more carboxyl groups
• carboxymethyl cellulose -  an acid derivative of cellulose
• cardiac glycoside -  obtained from a number of plants and used to stimulate the heart in cases of heart failure
• cardiologist -  a specialist in cardiology; a specialist in the structure and function and disorders of the heart
• carlos -  Venezuelan master terrorist raised by a Marxist-Leninist father; trained and worked with many terrorist groups (born in 1949)
• carnassial -  (of a tooth) adapted for shearing flesh
• carnauba wax -  hard yellowish to brownish wax from leaves of the carnauba palm used especially in floor waxes and polishes
• carnivore -  any animal that feeds on flesh; a terrestrial or aquatic flesh-eating mammal
• carotene -  yellow or orange-red fat-soluble pigments in plants; an orange isomer of an unsaturated hydrocarbon found in many plants; is converted into vitamin A in the liver
• carotenoid -  any of a class of highly unsaturated yellow to red pigments occurring in plants and animals
• carrageenan -  a colloidal extract from carrageen seaweed and other red algae
• carter -  someone whose work is driving carts; 39th President of the United States (1924-); Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
• casein -  a milk protein used in making e.g. plastics and adhesives; a water-base paint made with a protein precipitated from milk
• caspase -  any of a group of proteases that mediate apoptosis
• castor oil -  a purgative extracted from the seed of the castor plant; used in paint and varnish as well as medically
• catalase -  enzyme found in most plant and animal cells that functions as an oxidative catalyst; decomposes hydrogen peroxide into hydrogen and water
• catechin -  a tannic acid that is extracted from black catechu as a white crystalline substance
• catechu -  East Indian spiny tree having twice-pinnate leaves and yellow flowers followed by flat pods; source of black catechu; extract of the heartwood of Acacia catechu used for dying and tanning and preserving fishnets and sails; formerly used medicinally
• cefoperazone -  a parenteral cephalosporin (trade name Cefobid) used for severe infections
• ceftriaxone -  a parenteral cephalosporin (trade name Rocephin) used for severe infection of the lungs or throat or ears or urinary tract
• cefuroxime -  a cephalosporin that can be given parenterally (trade name Zinacef) or orally by tablets (trade name Ceftin); indicated for infections of the lungs or throat or ears or urinary tract or meninges
• cellophane -  a transparent paperlike product that is impervious to moisture and used to wrap candy or cigarettes etc.
• cellular -  characterized by or divided into or containing cells or compartments (the smallest organizational or structural unit of an organism or organization); relating to cells
• celluloid -  artificial as if portrayed in a film;  highly flammable substance made from cellulose nitrate and camphor; used in e.g. motion-picture and X-ray film; its use has decreased with the development of nonflammable thermoplastics; a medium that disseminates moving pictures
• cellulose -  a polysaccharide that is the chief constituent of all plant tissues and fibers
• cellulose acetate -  an ester of acetic acid; used in fibers and fabrics; photographic films and varnishes
• cellulose triacetate -  cellulose acetate that is relatively slow to burn; used instead of celluloid for motion-picture film
• centriole -  one of a pair of small cylindrical cell organelles near the nucleus in animal cells; composed of nine triplet microtubules and form the asters during mitosis
• centrum -  the main body of a vertebra
• cephalosporin -  one of several broad spectrum antibiotic substances obtained from fungi and related to penicillin (trade names Mefoxin); addition of side chains has produced semisynthetic antibiotics with greater antibacterial activity
• cerberus -  (Greek mythology) the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades; son of Typhon
• ceresin -  a white wax extracted from ozokerite
• cerotic acid -  a white solid fatty acid found in waxes (such as beeswax)
• chaperone -  one who accompanies and supervises a young woman or gatherings of young people; verb accompany as a chaperone
• cheese -  a solid food prepared from the pressed curd of milk; erect or decumbent Old World perennial with axillary clusters of rosy-purple flowers; introduced in United States; verb wind onto a cheese; used in the imperative (get away, or stop it)
• chemical -  relating to or used in chemistry; of or made from or using substances produced by or used in reactions involving atomic or molecular changes;  produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules
• chemical defense -  procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using chemical agents
• chemist -  a scientist who specializes in chemistry; a health professional trained in the art of preparing and dispensing drugs
• chemistry -  the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions; the way two individuals relate to each other
• chicory -  crisp spiky leaves with somewhat bitter taste; root of the chicory plant roasted and ground to substitute for or adulterate coffee; perennial Old World herb having rayed flower heads with blue florets cultivated for its root and its heads of crisp edible leaves used in salads; the dried root of the chicory plant: used as a coffee substitute
• chin-up -  an arm exercise performed by pulling yourself up on a horizontal bar until your chin is level with the bar
• chitin -  a tough semitransparent horny substance; the principal component of the exoskeletons of arthropods and the cell walls of certain fungi
• chloral hydrate -  a colorless crystalline drug used as a sedative; irritates the stomach and can be addictive
• chloramphenicol -  an oral antibiotic (trade name Chloromycetin) used to treat serious infections (especially typhoid fever)
• chlorella -  any alga of the genus Chlorella
• chloride -  any salt of hydrochloric acid (containing the chloride ion); any compound containing a chlorine atom
• chocolate -  a medium brown to dark-brown color; a food made from roasted ground cacao beans; a beverage made from cocoa powder and milk and sugar; usually drunk hot
• cholesterol -  an animal sterol that is normally synthesized by the liver; the most abundant steroid in animal tissues
• cholic acid -  an insoluble crystalline acid present in bile
• choline -  a B-complex vitamin that is a constituent of lecithin; essential in the metabolism of fat
• chondrin -  a substance that resembles gelatin and is obtained by boiling cartilage in water
• chorioretinitis -  inflammation of the choroid layer behind the retina
• chromium -  a hard brittle multivalent metallic element; resistant to corrosion and tarnishing
• chromosome -  a threadlike body in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order
• chunky -  like or containing small sticky lumps; short and thick; as e.g. having short legs and heavy musculature
• chylomicron -  a microscopic particle of triglycerides produced in the intestines during digestion; in the bloodstream they release their fatty acids into the blood
• cider mill -  mill that extracts juice from apples to make apple cider
• cirrhosis -  a chronic disease interfering with the normal functioning of the liver; the major cause is chronic alcoholism
• citrin -  a vitamin that maintains the resistance of cell and capillary walls to permeation
• civet -  catlike mammal typically secreting musk used in perfumes
• club soda -  effervescent beverage artificially charged with carbon dioxide
• coal oil -  a flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters
• cobalt -  a hard ferromagnetic silver-white bivalent or trivalent metallic element; a trace element in plant and animal nutrition
• cocaine -  a narcotic (alkaloid) extracted from coca leaves; used as a surface anesthetic or taken for pleasure; can become powerfully addictive
• cochineal -  a red dyestuff consisting of dried bodies of female cochineal insects; Mexican red scale insect that feeds on cacti; the source of a red dye
• coconut oil -  oil from coconuts
• cod liver oil -  an oil obtained from the livers of cod and similar fishes; taken orally as a source of vitamins A and D
• coenzyme q -  any of several quinones found in living cells and that function as coenzymes that transfer electrons from one molecule to another in cell respiration
• cofactor -  a substance (as a coenzyme) that must join with another to produce a given result
• coffee filter -  filter (usually of paper) that passes the coffee and retains the coffee grounds
• cohune oil -  semisolid fat from nuts of the cohune palm; used in cooking and soap making
• collagen -  a fibrous scleroprotein in bone and cartilage and tendon and other connective tissue; yields gelatin on boiling
• collagenase -  any enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of collagen and gelatin
• collodion -  a colorless syrupy solution of pyroxylin in ether and alcohol; used as a coating for wounds or photographic films
• colostrum -  milky fluid secreted for the first day or two after parturition
• colza oil -  edible light yellow to brown oil from rapeseed used also as a lubricant or illuminant
• comfort food -  food that is simply prepared and gives a sense of wellbeing; typically food with a high sugar or carbohydrate content that is associated with childhood or with home cooking
• company -  an institution created to conduct business; a unit of firefighters including their equipment; a social gathering of guests or companions; organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical); small military unit; usually two or three platoons; the state of being with someone; crew of a ship including the officers; the whole force or personnel of a ship; a band of people associated temporarily in some activity; a social or business visitor; verb be a companion to somebody
• complex -  complicated in structure; consisting of interconnected parts;  a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts; (psychoanalysis) a combination of emotions and impulses that have been rejected from awareness but still influence a person's behavior; a compound described in terms of the central atom to which other atoms are bound or coordinated; a whole structure (as a building) made up of interconnected or related structures
• compound -  of leaf shapes; of leaves composed of several similar parts or lobes; consisting of two or more substances or ingredients or elements or parts; composed of many distinct individuals united to form a whole or colony;  an enclosure of residences and other building (especially in the Orient); a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts; (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight; verb put or add together; combine so as to form a whole; mix; create by mixing or combining; calculate principal and interest; make more intense, stronger, or more marked
• condenser -  lens used to concentrate light on an object; a hollow coil that condenses by abstracting heat; an apparatus that converts vapor into liquid; an electrical device characterized by its capacity to store an electric charge
• confabulation -  (psychiatry) a plausible but imagined memory that fills in gaps in what is remembered; an informal conversation
• confectionary -  a confectioner's shop
• confectionery -  the occupation and skills of a confectioner; a confectioner's shop; candy and other sweets considered collectively
• confit -  a piece of meat (especially a duck) cooked slowly in its own fat
• confiture -  preserved or candied fruit
• conformational entropy -  entropy calculated from the probability that a state could be reached by chance alone
• conjugated protein -  a protein complex combining amino acids with other substances
• constriction -  the action or process of compressing; a tight feeling in some part of the body; tight or narrow compression; a narrowing that reduces the flow through a channel
• consumer -  a person who uses goods or services
• convergence -  the act of converging (coming closer); the approach of an infinite series to a finite limit; the occurrence of two or more things coming together; a representation of common ground between theories or phenomena
• cookbook -  a book of recipes and cooking directions
• cooking -  the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat
• cooking oil -  any of numerous vegetable oils used in cooking
• cooler -  a refrigerator for cooling liquids; a cell for violent prisoners; an iced drink especially white wine and fruit juice
• copper -  any of various small butterflies of the family Lycaenidae having coppery wings; a reddish-brown color resembling the color of polished copper; a copper penny; a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor; uncomplimentary terms for a policeman; verb coat with a layer of copper
• coprophagia -  eating feces; in human a symptom of some kinds of insanity
• corn oil -  oil from the germs of corn grains
• corn syrup -  syrup prepared from corn
• corticosteroid -  a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex or synthesized; administered as drugs they reduce swelling and decrease the body's immune response
• corticosterone -  secreted by the adrenal cortex; involved in regulating water and electrolyte balance in the body
• cortisol -  an adrenal-cortex hormone (trade names Hydrocortone or Cortef) that is active in carbohydrate and protein metabolism
• cortisone -  a corticosteroid hormone (trade name Cortone Acetate) normally produced by the adrenal cortex; is converted to hydrocortisone
• cotton -  fabric woven from cotton fibers; thread made of cotton fibers; erect bushy mallow plant or small tree bearing bolls containing seeds with many long hairy fibers; soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state; verb take a liking to
• cottonseed oil -  edible oil pressed from cottonseeds
• creamery -  a workplace where dairy products (butter and cheese etc.) are produced or sold
• creatine -  an amino acid that does not occur in proteins but is found in the muscle tissue of vertebrates both in the free form and as phosphocreatine; supplies energy for muscle contraction
• creosol -  a colorless to yellow aromatic liquid that is a constituent of creosote
• crohn's disease -  a serious chronic and progressive inflammation of the ileum producing frequent bouts of diarrhea with abdominal pain and nausea and fever and weight loss
• cross-link -  a side bond that links two adjacent chains of atoms in a complex molecule; verb join by creating covalent bonds (of adjacent chains of a polymer or protein)
• crunch -  the sound of something crunching; a critical situation that arises because of a shortage (as a shortage of time or money or resources); the act of crushing; verb make crunching noises; chew noisily; press or grind with a crunching noise; reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading
• culinary -  of or relating to or used in cooking
• curare -  a toxic alkaloid found in certain tropical South American trees that is a powerful relaxant for striated muscles
• curing -  the process of becoming hard or solid by cooling or drying or crystallization
• cushing's disease -  a glandular disorder caused by excessive ACTH resulting in greater than normal functioning of the adrenal gland; characterized by obesity
• cushing's syndrome -  a glandular disorder caused by excessive cortisol
• cyanamide -  a weak soluble dibasic acid (the parent acid of cyanamide salts); a compound used as a fertilizer and as a source of nitrogen compounds
• cyanocobalamin -  a B vitamin that is used to treat pernicious anemia
• cyclooxygenase -  either of two related enzymes that control the production of prostaglandins and are blocked by aspirin
• cytochrome c -  the most abundant and stable cytochrome; involved in energy transfer
• cytokine -  any of various proteins secreted by cells of the immune system that serve to regulate the immune system
• cytokinin -  any of a class of plant hormones that promote cell division and delay the senescence of leaves
• cytoskeleton -  a microscopic network of actin filaments and microtubules in the cytoplasm of many living cells that gives the cell shape and coherence
• dairy product -  milk and butter and cheese
• danger zone -  a dangerous area
• database -  an organized body of related information
• decanoic acid -  a fatty acid found in animal oils and fats; has an unpleasant smell resembling goats
• deficiency -  lack of an adequate quantity or number; the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
• dehydration -  the process of extracting moisture; depletion of bodily fluids; dryness resulting from the removal of water
• delirium tremens -  acute delirium caused by alcohol poisoning
• deoxyribose -  a sugar that is a constituent of nucleic acids
• dermatitis -  inflammation of the skin; skin becomes itchy and may develop blisters
• dermatomyositis -  myositis characterized by weakness of limb and neck muscles and much muscle pain and selling accompanied by skin rash affecting cheeks and eyelids and neck and chest and limbs; progression and severity vary among individuals
• dessert wine -  still sweet wine often served with dessert or after a meal
• detoxification -  treatment for poisoning by neutralizing the toxic properties (normally a function of the liver); a treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol intended to remove the physiological effects of the addictive substances
• device -  any clever maneuver; an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; an emblematic design (especially in heraldry); any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery); something in an artistic work designed to achieve a particular effect
• dexamethasone -  a corticosteroid drug (trade names Decadron or Dexamethasone Intensol or Dexone or Hexadrol or Oradexon) used to treat allergies or inflammation
• dextrin -  any of various polysaccharides obtained by hydrolysis of starch; a tasteless and odorless gummy substance that is used as a thickening agent and in adhesives and in dietary supplements
• diabetes -  any of several metabolic disorders marked by excessive urination and persistent thirst
• diabetes insipidus -  a rare form of diabetes resulting from a deficiency of vasopressin (the pituitary hormone that regulates the kidneys); characterized by the chronic excretion of large amounts of pale dilute urine which results in dehydration and extreme thirst
• diabetic diet -  a diet designed to help control the symptoms of diabetes
• diamine -  any organic compound containing two amino groups
• dielectric heating -  heating of an insulator by a high-frequency electric field
• dieting -  the act of restricting your food intake (or your intake of particular foods)
• dietitian -  a specialist in the study of nutrition
• digestion -  learning and coming to understand ideas and information; the organic process by which food is converted into substances that can be absorbed into the body; the process of decomposing organic matter (as in sewage) by bacteria or by chemical action or heat
• dihydrostreptomycin -  antibiotic consisting of a hydrogenated form of streptomycin; used against tuberculosis and tularemia and Gram-negative organisms
• diphenhydramine -  antihistamine (trade name Benadryl) used to treat allergic reactions involving the nasal passages (hay fever) and also to treat motion sickness
• dippel's oil -  dark-colored ill-smelling oil obtained by carbonizing bone; used especially in sheep dips and in denaturing alcohol
• dipsomania -  an intense persistent desire to drink alcoholic beverages to excess
• directive -  showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on;  a procement encouraging or banning some activity
• disaccharide -  any of a variety of carbohydrates that yield two monosaccharide molecules on complete hydrolysis
• disambiguation -  clarification that follows from the removal of ambiguity
• disease -  an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning
• dishevelled -  in disarray; extremely disorderly
• disorder -  a disturbance of the peace or of public order; condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning; a condition in which things are not in their expected places; verb bring disorder to; disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed
• distilled water -  water that has been purified by distillation
• disulfiram -  a drug (trade name Antabuse) used in the treatment of alcoholism; causes nausea and vomiting if alcohol is ingested
• docking -  the act of securing an arriving vessel with ropes
• docosahexaenoic acid -  an omega-3 fatty acid with 22 carbon atoms; found in fish (especially tuna and bluefish)
• doctor -  children take the roles of physician or patient or nurse and pretend they are at the physician's office; a licensed medical practitioner; a person who holds Ph.D. degree (or the equivalent) from an academic institution; (Roman Catholic Church) a title conferred on 33 saints who distinguished themselves through the orthodoxy of their theological teaching; verb give medical treatment to; restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken; alter and make impure, as with the intention to deceive
• dog biscuit -  a hard biscuit for dogs
• dog food -  food prepared for dogs
• domain -  a knowledge domain that you are interested in or are communicating about; territory over which rule or control is exercised; the set of values of the independent variable for which a function is defined; people in general; especially a distinctive group of people with some shared interest; a particular environment or walk of life
• dorian -  a member of one of the four divisions of the prehistoric Greeks
• doxorubicin -  an antibiotic used as an anticancer drug
• drinking fountain -  a public fountain to provide a jet of drinking water
• drinking water -  water suitable for drinking
• dripping -  having liquid falling in drops; wet with secreted or exuded moisture such as sweat or tears;  extremely wet;  a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house); the sound of a liquid falling drop by drop
• drying oil -  an oil that hardens in air due to oxidation and is often used as a paint or varnish base
• earwax -  a soft yellow wax secreted by glands in the ear canal
• eating -  the act of consuming food
• ecology -  the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment; the environment as it relates to living organisms
• effective -  existing in fact; not theoretical; real; able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively; exerting force or influence; producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect; works well as a means or remedy; ready for service
• effector -  an organ (a gland or muscle) that becomes active in response to nerve impulses; a nerve fiber that terminates on a muscle or gland and stimulates contraction or secretion; one who brings about a result or event; one who accomplishes a purpose
• eicosapentaenoic acid -  an omega-3 fatty acid with 20 carbon atoms; found in fish (especially tuna and bluefish)
• elaidic acid -  a mosaturated fatty acid that has the same structure as oleic acid except that it is a trans fatty acid; the major trans fatty acid in margarine and fried foods
• elastin -  a fibrous scleroprotein found in elastic tissues such as the walls of arteries
• electron microscope -  a microscope that is similar in purpose to a light microscope but achieves much greater resolving power by using a parallel beam of electrons to illuminate the object instead of a beam of light
• emaciation -  extreme leanness (usually caused by starvation or disease)
• endocrinology -  the branch of medicine dealing with the endocrine glands and their secretions
• endonuclease -  a nuclease that cleaves nucleic acids at interior bonds and so produces fragments of various sizes
• energy -  an imaginative lively style (especially style of writing); enterprising or ambitious drive; forceful exertion; (physics) the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs; a healthy capacity for vigorous activity; the federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the United States; created in 1977
• engineer -  a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems; the operator of a railway locomotive; verb design as an engineer; plan and direct (a complex undertaking)
• engineering -  a room (as on a ship) in which the engine is located; the discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems; the practical application of science to commerce or industry
• ensure - verb be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something; make certain of
• enterotoxin -  a cytotoxin specific for the cells of the intestinal mucosa
• entrepreneur -  someone who organizes a business venture and assumes the risk for it
• enzyme -  any of several complex proteins that are produced by cells and act as catalysts in specific biochemical reactions
• ephedra -  jointed and nearly leafless desert shrub having reduced scalelike leaves and reddish fleshy seeds
• epstein -  British sculptor (born in the United States) noted for busts and large controversial works (1880-1959)
• eratosthenes -  Greek mathematician and astronomer who estimated the circumference of the earth and the distances to the moon and sun (276-194 BC)
• ergocalciferol -  a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
• ergosterol -  a plant sterol that is converted into vitamin D by ultraviolet radiation
• erythromycin -  an antibiotic (trade name Erythrocin or E-Mycin or Ethril or Ilosone or Pediamycin) obtained from the actinomycete Streptomyces erythreus; effective against many Gram-positive bacteria and some Gram-negative
• erythropoietin -  a glycoprotein secreted by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells
• essential amino acid -  an amino acid that is required by animals but that they cannot synthesize; must be supplied in the diet
• essential hypertension -  persistent and pathological high blood pressure for which no specific cause can be found
• estradiol -  the most powerful female hormone that occurs naturally; synthesized and used to treat estrogen deficiency and breast cancer
• estriol -  a naturally occurring estrogenic hormone; a synthetic form is used to treat estrogen deficiency
• estrogen -  a general term for female steroid sex hormones that are secreted by the ovary and responsible for typical female sexual characteristics
• estrone -  a naturally occurring weak estrogenic hormone secreted by the mammalian ovary; synthesized (trade name Estronol) and used to treat estrogen deficiency
• etanercept -  a genetically engineered anti-TNF compound (trade name Enbrel) consisting of receptors that bind TNF; it is injected twice a week in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
• ethyl acetate -  a fragrant colorless flammable volatile liquid ester made from ethanol and acetic acid; used in flavorings and perfumes and as a solvent for plastics
• ethylene glycol -  a sweet but poisonous syrupy liquid used as an antifreeze and solvent
• eucalyptus oil -  an essential oil obtained from the leaves of eucalypts
• exercise -  the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit; a task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding; systematic training by multiple repetitions; (usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches; the act of using; verb do physical exercise; give a workout to; learn by repetition; put to use; carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions
• exonuclease -  a nuclease that releases one nucleotide at a time (serially) beginning at one of a nucleic acid
• explorer -  someone who travels into little known regions (especially for some scientific purpose); a commercial browser
• extract -  a passage selected from a larger work; a solution obtained by steeping or soaking a substance (usually in water); verb calculate the root of a number; remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense; separate (a metal) from an ore; get despite difficulties or obstacles; extract by the process of distillation; take out of a literary work in order to cite or copy; obtain from a substance, as by mechanical action; deduce (a principle) or construe (a meaning)
• factor viii -  a coagulation factor (trade name Hemofil) whose absence is associated with hemophilia A
• fad diet -  a reducing diet that enjoys temporary popularity
• family -  primary social group; parents and children; people descended from a common ancestor; a social unit living together; (biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera; an association of people who share common beliefs or activities; a collection of things sharing a common attribute; a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities; a person having kinship with another or others
• famine -  a severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death; an acute insufficiency
• fast day -  a day designated for fasting
• fasting -  abstaining from food
• fat chance -  little or no chance of success
• fatty acid -  any of a class of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids that form part of a lipid molecule and can be derived from fat by hydrolysis; fatty acids are simple molecules built around a series of carbon atoms linked together in a chain of 12 to 22 carbon atoms
• fed up -  having a strong distaste from surfeit
• fermentation -  a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol; a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
• ferritin -  a protein containing 20% iron that is found in the intestines and liver and spleen; it is one of the chief forms in which iron is stored in the body
• fertilizer -  any substance such as manure or a mixture of nitrates used to make soil more fertile
• fibrin -  a white insoluble fibrous protein formed by the action of thrombin on fibrinogen when blood clots; it forms a network that traps red cells and platelets
• fibrinogen -  a protein present in blood plasma; converts to fibrin when blood clots
• filaggrin -  the main protein of the keratohyalin granules
• filmmaker -  a producer of motion pictures
• finger food -  food to be eaten with the fingers
• fish oil -  a fatty oil obtained from the livers of various fish
• fishing -  the act of someone who fishes as a diversion; the occupation of catching fish for a living
• fitness -  the condition of being suitable; the quality of being qualified; good physical condition; being in shape or in condition; fitness to traverse the seas
• flagellum -  a lash-like appendage used for locomotion (e.g., in sperm cells and some bacteria and protozoa); a whip used to inflict punishment (often used for pedantic humor)
• flavor -  (physics) the six kinds of quarks; the taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth; the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people; verb lend flavor to
• flavour -  the taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth; (physics) the six kinds of quarks; the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people; verb lend flavor to
• flying saucer -  an (apparently) flying object whose nature is unknown; especially those considered to have extraterrestrial origins
• foie gras -  a pate made from goose liver (marinated in Cognac) and truffles
• folate -  a B vitamin that is essential for cell growth and reproduction
• folding -  capable of being folded up and stored;  the act of folding; a geological process that causes a bend in a stratum of rock; the process whereby a protein molecule assumes its intricate three-dimensional shape
• food additive -  an additive to food intended to improve its flavor or appearance or shelf-life
• food coloring -  a digestible substance used to give color to food
• food company -  a company that processes and sells food
• food pyramid -  (ecology) a hierarchy of food chains with the principal predator at the top; each level preys on the level below
• foraging -  the act of searching for food and provisions
• freeze-drying -  a method of drying food or blood plasma or pharmaceuticals or tissue without destroying their physical structure; material is frozen and then warmed in a vacuum so that the ice sublimes
• freshman -  used of a person in the first year of an experience (especially in United States high school or college);  a first-year undergraduate; any new participant in some activity
• frozen food -  food preserved by freezing
• fructose -  a simple sugar found in honey and in many ripe fruits
• furan -  a colorless toxic flammable liquid used in the synthesis of nylon
• furfural -  a liquid aldehyde with a penetrating odor; made from plant hulls and corn cobs; used in making furan and as a solvent
• future -  coming at a subsequent time or stage; (of elected officers) elected but not yet serving; yet to be or coming; effective in or looking toward the future; a verb tense or other formation referring to events or states that have not yet happened;  bulk commodities bought or sold at an agreed price for delivery at a specified future date; a verb tense that expresses actions or states in the future; the time yet to come
• galactagogue -  agent that induces milk secretion
• galactose -  a simple sugar found in lactose
• gamma globulin -  a plasma protein containing the immunoglobulins that are responsible for immune responses
• gangrene -  necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass; the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply); verb undergo necrosis
• garland -  a city in northeastern Texas (suburb of Dallas); United States singer and film actress (1922-1969); flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes; an anthology of short literary pieces and poems and ballads etc.; verb adorn with bands of flowers or leaves
• gaucher's disease -  a rare chronic disorder of lipid metabolism of genetic origin
• gelatin -  a thin translucent membrane used over stage lights for color effects; an edible jelly (sweet or pungent) made with gelatin and used as a dessert or salad base or a coating for foods; a colorless water-soluble glutinous protein obtained from animal tissues such as bone and skin
• gemfibrozil -  medication (trade name Lopid) used to lower the levels of triglyceride in the blood
• general -  prevailing among and common to the general public; not specialized or limited to one class of things; applying to all or most members of a category or group; of national scope; affecting the entire body; somewhat indefinite; of worldwide scope or applicability;  a fact about the whole (as opposed to particular); a general officer of the highest rank; the head of a religious order or congregation; verb command as a general
• genetics -  the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms
• gentamicin -  an antibiotic (trade name Garamycin) that is derived from an actinomycete; used in treating infections of the urinary tract
• genu valgum -  an inward slant of the thigh
• geophagia -  eating earth or clay or chalk; occurs in some primitive tribes or sometimes in cases of nutritional deficiency
• george -  Elector of Hanover and the first Hanoverian King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1714 to 1727 (1660-1727); King of Great Britain and Elector of Hanover from 1727 to 1760 (1683-1760); King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820; the American colonies were lost during his reign; he became insane in 1811 and his son (later George IV) acted as regent until 1820 (1738-1820); King of Great Britain and Ireland and Hanover from 1820 to 1830; his attempt to divorce his estranged wife undermined the prestige of the crown (1762-1830); King of Great Britain and Ireland and emperor of India from 1910 to 1936; gave up his German title in 1917 during World War I (1865-1936); King of Great Britain and Ireland and emperor of India from 1936 to 1947; he succeeded Edward VIII (1895-1952); Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
• geyser -  a spring that discharges hot water and steam; verb to overflow like a geyser
• ghrelin -  a hormone produced by stomach cells
• gibberellic acid -  a crystalline acid associated with gibberellin
• gibberellin -  a plant hormone isolated from a fungus; used in promoting plant growth
• ginseng -  Chinese herb with palmately compound leaves and small greenish flowers and forked aromatic roots believed to have medicinal powers; aromatic root of ginseng plants
• girth -  the distance around a person's body; stable gear consisting of a band around a horse's belly that holds the saddle in place; verb encircle or bind; tie a cinch around
• globin -  a colorless protein obtained by removing heme from hemoglobin; the oxygen carrying compound in red blood cells
• globulin -  a family of proteins found in blood and milk and muscle and in plant seed
• glucocorticoid -  a steroid hormone that is produced by the adrenal cortex of animals; affects functioning of gonads and has anti-inflammatory activity
• glucose -  a monosaccharide sugar that has several forms; an important source of physiological energy
• glucoside -  a glycoside derived from glucose
• glutamine -  a crystalline amino acid occurring in proteins; important in protein metabolism
• glutelin -  a simple protein found in the seeds of cereals
• gluten -  a protein substance that remains when starch is removed from cereal grains; gives cohesiveness to dough
• gluttony -  eating to excess (personified as one of the deadly sins); habitual eating to excess
• glyceraldehyde -  a sweet crystalline aldehyde formed by the breakdown of sugars
• glyceric acid -  a syrupy acid obtained by oxidation of glycerol or glyceraldehyde
• glyceride -  an ester of glycerol and fatty acids that occurs naturally as fats and fatty oils
• glycerol -  a sweet syrupy trihydroxy alcohol obtained by saponification of fats and oils
• glycogen -  one form in which body fuel is stored; stored primarily in the liver and broken down into glucose when needed by the body
• glycolysis -  a metabolic process that breaks down carbohydrates and sugars through a series of reactions to either pyruvic acid or lactic acid and release energy for the body in the form of ATP
• glycoprotein -  a conjugated protein having a carbohydrate component
• glycoside -  a group of compounds derived from monosaccharides
• golden syrup -  a pale cane syrup
• gratitude -  a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
• grazing -  the act of brushing against while passing; the act of grazing
• greek key -  an ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines (often in relief)
• griseofulvin -  a kind of penicillin (a fungicidal antibiotic with the trade name Fulvicin) produced by molds of the genus Penicillium
• growth factor -  a protein that is involved in cell differentiation and growth
• growth hormone -  a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland; promotes growth in humans
• gumdrop -  a jellied candy coated with sugar crystals
• gynecomastia -  excessive development of the breasts in males; usually the result of hormonal imbalance or treatment with certain drugs (including some antihypertensives)
• hair of the dog -  an alcoholic drink supposed to cure a hangover
• hair oil -  a toiletry for the hair
• hamlet -  a community of people smaller than a village; the hero of William Shakespeare's tragedy who hoped to avenge the murder of his father; a settlement smaller than a town
• hand tool -  a tool used with workers' hands
• hangover -  something that has survived from the past; disagreeable aftereffects from the use of drugs (especially alcohol); an official who remains in office after his term
• hard candy -  candy that is brittle
• harris -  publisher of the first newspaper printed in America (1673-1713); British marshal of the Royal Air Force; during World War II he directed mass bombing raids against German cities that resulted in heavy civilian casualties (1892-1984); Irish writer noted for his sexually explicit but unreliable autobiography (1856-1931); United States diplomat who was instrumental in opening Japan to foreign trade (1804-1878)
• harvest -  the season for gathering crops; the gathering of a ripened crop; the consequence of an effort or activity; the yield from plants in a single growing season; verb remove from a culture or a living or dead body, as for the purposes of transplantation; gather, as of natural products
• health -  the general condition of body and mind; a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
• heating oil -  a petroleum product used for fuel
• hematochrome -  a reddish coloring material found in some algae
• hemolysin -  any substance that can cause lysis (destruction) of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and the release of their hemoglobin
• hemorrhoid -  pain caused by venous swelling at or inside the anal sphincter
• heparin -  a polysaccharide produced in basophils (especially in the lung and liver) and that inhibits the activity of thrombin in coagulation of the blood; it (trade names Lipo-Hepin and Liquaemin) is used as an anticoagulant in the treatment of thrombosis and in heart surgery
• heptadecanoic acid -  a colorless crystalline synthetic fatty acid
• herbal medicine -  the use of medicinal herbs to prevent or treat disease or promote health; a medicine made from plants and used to prevent or treat disease or promote health
• herbivore -  any animal that feeds chiefly on grass and other plants
• herman -  United States jazz musician and bandleader (1913-1987)
• herring -  commercially important food fish of northern waters of both Atlantic and Pacific; valuable flesh of fatty fish from shallow waters of northern Atlantic or Pacific; usually salted or pickled
• heterologous -  derived from organisms of a different but related species; not corresponding in structure or evolutionary origin
• hexanoic acid -  a fatty acid found in animal oils and fats or made synthetically; smells like goats
• hexose -  a monosaccharide that contains six carbon atoms per molecule
• histidine -  an essential amino acid found in proteins that is important for the growth and repair of tissue
• histone -  a simple protein containing mainly basic amino acids; present in cell nuclei in association with nucleic acids
• history -  the discipline that records and interprets past events involving human beings; all that is remembered of the past as preserved in writing; a body of knowledge; a record or narrative description of past events; the aggregate of past events; the continuum of events occurring in succession leading from the past to the present and even into the future
• hoarding -  large outdoor signboard
• homeobox -  one of various similar homeotic genes that are involved in bodily segmentation during embryonic development
• homogenization -  the act of making something homogeneous or uniform in composition
• hopkins -  Welsh film actor (born in 1937); English biochemist who did pioneering work that led to the discovery of vitamins (1861-1947); English poet (1844-1889); United States financier and philanthropist who left money to found the university and hospital that bear his name in Baltimore (1795-1873); United States educator and theologian (1802-1887)
• hot spring -  a natural spring of water at a temperature of 70 F or above
• hothead -  a reckless impetuous irresponsible person; a belligerent grouch
• humbug -  communication (written or spoken) intended to deceive; something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage; pretentious or silly talk or writing; verb trick or deceive
• hunger -  strong desire for something (not food or drink); a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation; verb feel the need to eat; be hungry; go without food; have a craving, appetite, or great desire for
• hunger strike -  a voluntary fast undertaken as a means of protest
• hyalin -  a glassy translucent material that occurs in hyaline cartilage or in certain skin conditions
• hyaluronic acid -  a viscous mucopolysaccharide found in the connective tissue space and the synovial fluid of movable joints and the humors of the eye; a cementing and protective substance
• hyderabad -  a city in south central India in Andhra Pradesh; a city in southern Pakistan on the Indus River
• hydrocortisone -  an adrenal-cortex hormone (trade names Hydrocortone or Cortef) that is active in carbohydrate and protein metabolism
• hydrogen -  a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
• hydrology -  the branch of geology that studies water on the earth and in the atmosphere: its distribution and uses and conservation
• hydrolysate -  a product of hydrolysis
• hydroxy -  being or containing a hydroxyl group
• hydroxymethyl -  a methyl with hydroxide replacing the hydrogen atoms
• hyoscine -  an alkaloid with anticholinergic effects that is used as a sedative and to treat nausea and to dilate the pupils in ophthalmic procedures
• hyoscyamine -  a poisonous crystalline alkaloid (isometric with atropine but more potent); used to treat excess motility of the gastrointestinal tract
• hypercholesterolemia -  the presence of an abnormal amount of cholesterol in the cells and plasma of the blood; associated with the risk of atherosclerosis
• hyperextension -  greater than normal extension
• hyperlipidemia -  presence of excess lipids in the blood
• hypertension -  a common disorder in which blood pressure remains abnormally high (a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or greater)
• hypervitaminosis -  an abnormal condition resulting from taking vitamins excessively; can be serious for vitamins A or D or K
• hypobetalipoproteinemia -  a hereditary disorder characterized by low levels of beta-lipoproteins and lipids and cholesterol
• hypokalemia -  abnormally low level of potassium in the circulating blood leading to weakness and heart abnormalities; associated with adrenal tumors or starvation or taking diuretics
• hypolipoproteinemia -  any of various disorders of lipoprotein and cholesterol metabolism that result in low levels of lipoprotein and cholesterol in the circulating blood
• hyponatremia -  abnormally low level of sodium in the blood; associated with dehydration
• hypothalamic -  of or relating to the hypothalamus
• ice pack -  a waterproof bag filled with ice: applied to the body (especially the head) to cool or reduce swelling; a large expanse of floating ice
• icebox -  white goods in which food can be stored at low temperatures
• immunoelectrophoresis -  electrophoresis to separate antigens and antibodies
• immunoglobulin a -  one of the most common of the five major classes of immunoglobulins; the chief antibody in the membranes of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts
• immunoglobulin d -  one of the five major classes of immunoglobulins; present in blood serum in small amounts
• immunoglobulin e -  one of the five major classes of immunoglobulins; present primarily in the skin and mucous membranes
• immunoglobulin g -  one of the five major classes of immunoglobulins; the main antibody defense against bacteria
• immunoglobulin m -  one of the five major classes of immunoglobulins; involved in fighting blood infections and in triggering production of immunoglobulin G
• immunohistochemistry -  an assay that shows specific antigens in tissues by the use of markers that are either fluorescent dyes or enzymes (such as horseradish peroxidase)
• immunology -  the branch of medical science that studies the body's immune system
• incorporated -  introduced into as a part of the whole; organized and maintained as a legal corporation; formed or united into a whole
• induced -  brought about or caused; not spontaneous
• infant -  a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
• infant feeding -  feeding an infant
• infliximab -  an anti-TNF compound (trade name Remicade) consisting of an antibody directed against TNF; it is given intravenously at one-month to three-month intervals; used in treatment of regional enteritis and rheumatoid arthritis
• inhibitor -  a substance that retards or stops an activity
• inositol -  an optically inactive alcohol that is a component of the vitamin B complex
• insectivore -  any organism that feeds mainly on insects; small insect-eating mainly nocturnal terrestrial or fossorial mammals
• insulin -  hormone secreted by the isles of Langerhans in the pancreas; regulates storage of glycogen in the liver and accelerates oxidation of sugar in cells
• interferon -  an antiviral protein produced by cells that have been invaded by a virus; inhibits replication of the virus
• interleukin -  any of several lymphokines that promote macrophages and killer T cells and B cells and other components of the immune system
• intestinal bypass -  surgical operation that shortens the small intestine; used in treating obesity
• inulin -  used to manufacture fructose and in assessing kidney function
• iodide -  a salt or ester of hydriodic acid
• iodine -  a nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; used especially in medicine and photography and in dyes; occurs naturally only in combination in small quantities (as in sea water or rocks); a tincture consisting of a solution of iodine in ethyl alcohol; applied topically to wounds as an antiseptic
• ionization -  the process of ionizing; the formation of ions by separating atoms or molecules or radicals or by adding or subtracting electrons from atoms by strong electric fields in a gas; the condition of being dissociated into ions (as by heat or radiation or chemical reaction or electrical discharge)
• iron deficiency anemia -  a form of anemia due to lack of iron in the diet or to iron loss as a result of chronic bleeding
• isoleucine -  an essential amino acid found in proteins; isomeric with leucine
• isoniazid -  antibacterial drug (trade name Nydrazid) used to treat tuberculosis
• isothiocyanate -  a family of compounds derived from horseradish and radishes and onions and mustards; source of the hotness of those plants and preparations
• jackknife -  a dive in which the diver bends to touch the ankles before straightening out; a large knife with one or more folding blades; verb dive into the water bending the body at the waist at a right angle, like a jackknife
• jacobs -  Dutch physician who opened the first birth control clinic in the world in Amsterdam (1854-1929); United States writer and critic of urban planning (born in 1916); English writer of macabre short stories (1863-1943)
• jaggery -  unrefined brown sugar made from palm sap
• japan wax -  a yellow wax obtained from sumac berries; used in polishes
• journal -  the part of the axle contained by a bearing; a record book as a physical object; a periodical dedicated to a particular subject; a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations; a ledger in which transactions have been recorded as they occurred
• jujube -  chewy fruit-flavored jellied candy (sometimes medicated to soothe a sore throat); dark red plumlike fruit of Old World buckthorn trees; spiny tree having dark red edible fruits
• keratin -  a fibrous scleroprotein that occurs in the outer layer of the skin and in horny tissues such as hair feathers nails and hooves
• keratohyalin -  hyaline in the large granules of the stratum granulosum
• kerosene -  a flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters
• ketose -  any monosaccharide sugar that contains a ketone group or its hemiacetal
• ketosteroid -  a steroid containing a ketone group
• kinase -  an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of a proenzyme to an active enzyme
• kindling -  material for starting a fire; the act of setting something on fire
• kipper -  salted and smoked herring
• kwashiorkor -  severe malnutrition in children resulting from a diet excessively high in carbohydrates and low in protein
• lactation -  the production and secretion of milk by the mammary glands; the period following birth during which milk is secreted; feeding an infant by giving suck at the breast
• lactobacillus -  Gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria that produce lactic acid especially in milk
• lactose -  a sugar comprising one glucose molecule linked to a galactose molecule; occurs only in milk
• lactose intolerance -  congenital disorder consisting of an inability to digest milk and milk products; absence or deficiency of lactase results in an inability to hydrolyze lactose
• lanolin -  an emollient containing wool fat (a fatty substance obtained from the wool of sheep); a yellow viscous animal oil extracted from wool; a mixture of fatty acids and esters; used in some ointments and cosmetics
• larder -  a supply of food especially for a household; a small storeroom for storing foods or wines
• latch -  catch for fastening a door or gate; a bar that can be lowered or slid into a groove; spring-loaded doorlock that can only be opened from the outside with a key; verb fasten with a latch
• lauric acid -  a crystalline fatty acid occurring as glycerides in natural fats and oils (especially coconut oil and palm-kernel oil)
• lecithin -  a yellow phospholipid essential for the metabolism of fats; found in egg yolk and in many plant and animal cells; used commercially as an emulsifier
• lectin -  any of several plant glycoproteins that act like specific antibodies but are not antibodies in that they are not evoked by an antigenic stimulus
• lemon drop -  a hard candy with lemon flavor and a yellow color and (usually) the shape of a lemon
• leucine -  a white crystalline amino acid occurring in proteins that is essential for nutrition; obtained by the hydrolysis of most dietary proteins
• lichen -  any thallophytic plant of the division Lichenes; occur as crusty patches or bushy growths on tree trunks or rocks or bare ground etc.; any of several eruptive skin diseases characterized by hard thick lesions grouped together and resembling lichens growing on rocks
• ligand -  an atom or molecule or radical or ion that forms a complex around a central atom
• limonene -  a liquid terpene with a lemon odor; found in lemons and oranges and other essential oils
• linalool -  a colorless fragrant liquid found in many essential oils
• linoleic acid -  a liquid polyunsaturated fatty acid abundant in plant fats and oils; a fatty acid essential for nutrition; used to make soap
• linolenic acid -  a liquid polyunsaturated fatty acid that occurs in some plant oils; an essential fatty acid
• linseed oil -  a drying oil extracted from flax seed and used in making such things as oil paints
• lipomatosis -  pathology in which fat accumulates in lipomas in the body
• lipoprotein -  a conjugated protein having a lipid component; the principal means for transporting lipids in the blood
• liquefaction -  the conversion of a solid or a gas into a liquid
• liquid diet -  a diet of foods that can be served in liquid or strained form (plus custards or puddings); prescribed after certain kinds of surgery
• liquid oxygen -  a bluish translucent magnetic liquid obtained by compressing gaseous oxygen and then cooling it below its boiling point; used as an oxidizer in rocket propellants
• liquorice -  a black candy flavored with the dried root of the licorice plant; deep-rooted coarse-textured plant native to the Mediterranean region having blue flowers and pinnately compound leaves; widely cultivated in Europe for its long thick sweet roots
• lithia water -  mineral water containing lithium salts
• lollipop -  hard candy on a stick; ice cream or water ice on a small wooden stick
• long-chain -  of molecules having relatively long chains of atoms in a molecule
• long-term -  relating to or extending over a relatively long time
• lonicera japonica -  an Asiatic trailing evergreen honeysuckle with half-evergreen leaves and fragrant white flowers turning yellow with age; has become a weed in some areas
• lubricant -  a substance capable of reducing friction by making surfaces smooth or slippery
• lubrication -  an application of a lubricant to something; the condition of having been made smooth or slippery by the application of a lubricant
• lunge -  (fencing) an attacking thrust made with one foot forward and the back leg straight and with the sword arm outstretched forward; the act of moving forward suddenly; verb make a thrusting forward movement
• lutein -  yellow carotenoid pigments in plants and animal fats and egg yolks
• luteinizing hormone -  a gonadotropic hormone that is secreted by the anterior pituitary; stimulates ovulation in female mammals and stimulates androgen release in male mammals
• lycopene -  carotenoid that makes tomatoes red; may lower the risk of prostate cancer
• lymphokine -  a cytokine secreted by helper T cells in response to stimulation by antigens and that acts on other cells of the immune system (as by activating macrophages)
• lysine -  an essential amino acid found in proteins; occurs especially in gelatin and casein
• macrobiotic diet -  a diet consisting chiefly of beans and whole grains
• macrophage -  a large phagocyte; some are fixed and other circulate in the blood stream
• magnesium -  a light silver-white ductile bivalent metallic element; in pure form it burns with brilliant white flame; occurs naturally only in combination (as in magnesite and dolomite and carnallite and spinel and olivine)
• malnutrition -  a state of poor nutrition; can result from insufficient or excessive or unbalanced diet or from inability to absorb foods
• maltose -  a white crystalline sugar formed during the digestion of starches
• manganese -  a hard brittle grey polyvalent metallic element that resembles iron but is not magnetic; used in making steel; occurs in many minerals
• mannitol -  a diuretic (trade name Osmitrol) used to promote the excretion of urine
• maple sugar -  sugar made from the sap of the sugar maple tree
• maraschino cherry -  cherry preserved in true or imitation maraschino liqueur; Dalmatian bitter wild cherry tree bearing fruit whose juice is made into maraschino liqueur
• marasmus -  extreme malnutrition and emaciation (especially in children); can result from inadequate intake of food or from malabsorption or metabolic disorders
• marie tussaud -  French modeler (resident in England after 1802) who made wax death masks of prominent victims of the French Revolution and toured Britain with her wax models; in 1835 she opened a permanent waxworks exhibition in London (1761-1850)
• marrubium vulgare -  European aromatic herb with hairy leaves and numerous white flowers in axillary cymes; leaves yield a bitter extract use medicinally and as flavoring
• marshall -  United States jurist; as chief justice of the Supreme Court he established the principles of United States constitutional law (1755-1835); United States general and statesman who as Secretary of State organized the European Recovery Program (1880-1959); United States actor (1914-1998); a law officer having duties similar to those of a sheriff in carrying out the judgments of a court of law; (in some countries) a military officer of highest rank
• mascot -  a person or animal that is adopted by a team or other group as a symbolic figure
• master -  an original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which copies can be made; an authority qualified to teach apprentices; directs the work of other; someone who holds a master's degree from academic institution; an officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship; key that secures entrance everywhere; presiding officer of a school; an artist of consummate skill; a person who has general authority over others; a combatant who is able to defeat rivals; verb have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of; be or become completely proficient or skilled in; get on top of; deal with successfully; have dominance or the power to defeat over
• material -  derived from or composed of matter; directly relevant to a matter especially a law case; concerned with or affecting physical as distinct from intellectual or psychological well-being; concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests; having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary; having material or physical form or substance;  things needed for doing or making something; information (data or ideas or observations) that can be used or reworked into a finished form; a person judged suitable for admission or employment; the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object; artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
• mediator -  a negotiator who acts as a link between parties
• medication -  the act of treating with medicines or remedies; (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease
• medicine -  the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries; (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease; the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques; punishment for one's actions; verb treat medicinally, treat with medicine
• medroxyprogesterone -  a progestin compound (trade name Provera) used to treat menstrual disorders
• megaphone -  a cone-shaped acoustic device held to the mouth to intensify and direct the human voice
• megavitamin therapy -  therapy based on a theory that taking very large doses of vitamins will prevent or cure physical or psychological disorders
• megestrol acetate -  a synthetic progestational compound used to treat endometrial carcinoma
• meltwater -  melted snow or ice
• member -  an organization that is a member of another organization (especially a state that belongs to a group of nations); one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participates in a group organization); anything that belongs to a set or class; the male organ of copulation (`member' is a euphemism); an external body part that projects from the body
• menadione -  a form of vitamin K
• mepacrine -  a drug (trade name Atabrine) used to treat certain worm infestations and once used to treat malaria
• merlin -  (Arthurian legend) the magician who acted as King Arthur's advisor; small falcon of Europe and America having dark plumage with black-barred tail; used in falconry
• merops -  type genus of the Meropidae
• mestranol -  a synthetic form of estrogen used in combination with a progestin in oral contraceptives
• methamphetamine -  an amphetamine derivative (trade name Methedrine) used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant
• methionine -  a crystalline amino acid containing sulfur; found in most proteins and essential for nutrition
• methyl -  the univalent radical CH3- derived from methane
• methyl salicylate -  a liquid ester with a strong odor of wintergreen; applied externally for minor muscle and joint pain
• methylene -  the bivalent radical CH2 derived from methane
• methyltestosterone -  an androgenic compound contained in drugs that are used to treat testosterone deficiency and female breast cancer and to stimulate growth and weight gain
• metronidazole -  antiprotozoal medication (trade name Flagyl) used to treat trichomoniasis and giardiasis
• mexico -  a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810
• miconazole -  an antifungal agent usually administered in the form of a nitrate (trade name Monistat)
• micronutrient -  a substance needed only in small amounts for normal body function (e.g., vitamins or minerals)
• microtubule -  a microscopically small tubule
• mifepristone -  an abortion-inducing drug (trade name RU_486) developed in France; when taken during the first five weeks of pregnancy it blocks the action of progesterone so that the uterus sloughs off the embryo
• mineral -  of or containing or derived from minerals; composed of matter other than plant or animal; relating to minerals;  solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition
• mineral deficiency -  lack of a mineral micronutrient that is essential for normal nutrition or metabolism
• mineral oil -  a distillate of petroleum (especially one used medicinally as a laxative or stool softener)
• mineral water -  water naturally or artificially impregnated with mineral salts or gasses; often effervescent; often used therapeutically
• minibar -  sideboard with compartments for holding bottles
• mirage -  something illusory and unattainable; an optical illusion in which atmospheric refraction by a layer of hot air distorts or inverts reflections of distant objects
• mitchell -  United States dancer who formed the first Black classical ballet company (born in 1934); United States labor leader; president of the United Mine Workers of America from 1898 to 1908 (1870-1919); United States writer noted for her novel about the South during the American Civil War (1900-1949); United States astronomer who studied sunspots and nebulae (1818-1889); United States aviator and general who was an early advocate of military air power (1879-1936); English aeronautical engineer (1895-1937)
• molasses -  thick dark syrup produced by boiling down juice from sugar cane; especially during sugar refining
• molecular -  relating to simple or elementary organization; relating to or produced by or consisting of molecules
• molecular biology -  the branch of biology that studies the structure and activity of macromolecules essential to life (and especially with their genetic role)
• molecule -  (physics and chemistry) the simplest structural unit of an element or compound; (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
• molybdenum -  a polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and tungsten in its properties; used to strengthen and harden steel
• monosaccharide -  a sugar (like sucrose or fructose) that does not hydrolyse to give other sugars; the simplest group of carbohydrates
• montan wax -  a hard wax obtained from lignite
• morphine -  an alkaloid narcotic drug extracted from opium; a powerful, habit-forming narcotic used to relieve pain
• mother -  a condition that is the inspiration for an activity or situation; a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother); a term of address for a mother superior; a term of address for an elderly woman; a stringy slimy substance consisting of yeast cells and bacteria; forms during fermentation and is added to cider or wine to produce vinegar; verb care for like a mother; make children
• motor oil -  oil used to lubricate the moving parts of a motor
• moveable feast -  a religious holiday that falls on different dates in different years
• mucic acid -  a solid acid (C6H10O8) found in milk or sugar
• mucilage -  a gelatinous substance secreted by plants; cement consisting of a sticky substance that is used as an adhesive
• multivitamin -  a pill or tablet containing several vitamins
• mushroom -  fleshy body of any of numerous edible fungi; a large cloud of rubble and dust shaped like a mushroom and rising into the sky after an explosion (especially of a nuclear bomb); any of various fleshy fungi of the subdivision Basidiomycota consisting of a cap at the end of a stem arising from an underground mycelium; common name for an edible agaric (contrasting with the inedible toadstool); verb grow and spread fast; pick or gather mushrooms
• mustard oil -  oil obtained from mustard seeds and used in making soap
• mycotoxin -  a toxin produced by a fungus
• myofibril -  one of many contractile filaments that make up a striated muscle fiber
• myosin -  the commonest protein in muscle; a globulin that combines with actin to form actomyosin
• myristic acid -  a saturated fatty acid occurring naturally in animal and vegetable fats
• nail-biting -  (of a situation) characterized by or causing suspense
• nalidixic acid -  antibacterial agent used especially to treat genitourinary infections
• naltrexone -  an oral antagonist against the action of opiates
• nandrolone -  an androgen (trade names Durabolin or Kabolin) that is used to treat testosterone deficiency or breast cancer or osteoporosis
• naphthol -  either of two phenols derived from naphthalene
• naturopathy -  a method of treating disease using food and exercise and heat to assist the natural healing process
• neomycin -  an antibiotic obtained from an actinomycete and used (as a sulphate under the trade name Neobiotic) as an intestinal antiseptic in surgery
• neophobia -  a morbid fear of novelty
• nerve growth factor -  a protein that is involved in the growth of peripheral nerve cells
• niacin -  a B vitamin essential for the normal function of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract
• nickel -  a United States coin worth one twentieth of a dollar; five dollars worth of a drug; a hard malleable ductile silvery metallic element that is resistant to corrosion; used in alloys; occurs in pentlandite and smaltite and garnierite and millerite; verb plate with nickel
• nipple -  a flexible cap on a baby's feeding bottle or pacifier; the small projection of a mammary gland
• nipple shield -  a rubber or plastic shield to protect the nipples of nursing women
• nitrocellulose -  nitric acid esters; used in lacquers and explosives
• nitrofurantoin -  derivative of nitrofuran used as an antibacterial medicine (trade name Macrodantin) effective against a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; used to treat infections of the urinary tract
• nitroglycerin -  a heavy yellow poisonous oily explosive liquid obtained by nitrating glycerol; used in making explosives and medically as a vasodilator (trade names Nitrospan and Nitrostat)
• noggin -  informal terms for a human head
• norethandrolone -  a synthetic progestational hormone (trade name Norlutin) used in oral contraceptives and to treat endometriosis
• norgestrel -  synthetic progestin used in oral contraceptives
• novobiocin -  an antibiotic obtained from an actinomycete and used to treat infections by Gram-positive bacteria
• nucleoprotein -  any of several substances found in the nuclei of all living cells; consists of a protein bound to a nucleic acid
• nutrient -  of or providing nourishment;  any substance that can be metabolized by an organism to give energy and build tissue
• nutrition -  the scientific study of food and drink (especially in humans); (physiology) the organic process of nourishing or being nourished; the processes by which an organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and maintenance; a source of materials to nourish the body
• nutritionist -  a specialist in the study of nutrition
• obesity -  more than average fatness
• oenology -  the art of wine making
• oil paint -  paint in which a drying oil is the vehicle
• oleic acid -  a colorless oily liquid occurring as a glyceride; it is the major fatty acid in olive oil and canola oil; used in making soap and cosmetics and ointments and lubricating oils
• oleoresin -  a naturally occurring mixture of a resin and an essential oil; obtained from certain plants
• oligosaccharide -  any of the carbohydrates that yield only a few monosaccharide molecules on complete hydrolysis
• olive oil -  oil from olives
• omega -  the last (24th) letter of the Greek alphabet; the ending of a series or sequence
• oncogene -  a gene that causes normal cells to change into cancerous tumor cells
• ontario -  a prosperous and industrialized province in central Canada; the smallest of the Great Lakes
• organelle -  a specialized part of a cell; analogous to an organ
• organisation -  the act of forming something; the activity or result of distributing or disposing persons or things properly or methodically; the act of organizing a business or an activity related to a business; an ordered manner; orderliness by virtue of being methodical and well organized; an organized structure for arranging or classifying; a group of people who work together; the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something
• organization -  the activity or result of distributing or disposing persons or things properly or methodically; the act of organizing a business or an activity related to a business; an ordered manner; orderliness by virtue of being methodical and well organized; a group of people who work together; the act of forming something; an organized structure for arranging or classifying; the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something
• ortolan bunting -  brownish Old World bunting often eaten as a delicacy
• osteomalacia -  abnormal softening of bones caused by deficiencies of phosphorus or calcium or vitamin D
• ovalbumin -  the white part of an egg; the nutritive and protective gelatinous substance surrounding the yolk consisting mainly of albumin dissolved in water
• overeating -  eating to excess (personified as one of the deadly sins)
• overweight -  usually describes a large person who is fat but has a large frame to carry it;  the property of excessive fatness
• oxidase -  any of the enzymes that catalyze biological oxidation
• oxygenase -  an oxidoreductase that catalyzes the incorporation of molecular oxygen
• oxytocin -  hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitocin); stimulates contractions of the uterus and ejection of milk
• ozokerite -  a waxy mineral that is a mixture of hydrocarbons and occurs in association with petroleum; some varieties are used in making ceresin and candles
• pablum -  a soft form of cereal for infants; worthless or oversimplified ideas
• palmitic acid -  a saturated fatty acid that is the major fat in meat and dairy products
• pancreatic juice -  a fluid secreted into the duodenum by the pancreas; important for breaking down starches and proteins and fats
• pandemic -  existing everywhere; epidemic over a wide geographical area;  an epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world
• pantothenic acid -  a vitamin of the vitamin B complex that performs an important role in the oxidation of fats and carbohydrates and certain amino acids; occurs in many foods
• papain -  a proteolytic enzyme obtained from the unripe papaya; used as a meat tenderizer
• paraffin wax -  from crude petroleum; used for candles and for preservative or waterproof coatings
• pasteurization -  partial sterilization of foods at a temperature that destroys harmful microorganisms without major changes in the chemistry of the food
• patched -  mended usually clumsily by covering a hole with a patch; having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
• pathologist -  a doctor who specializes in medical diagnosis
• peanut oil -  a oil from peanuts; used in cooking and making soap
• pectic acid -  a complex acid that occurs in ripe fruit and some vegetables
• pectin -  any of various water-soluble colloidal carbohydrates that occur in ripe fruit and vegetables; used in making fruit jellies and jams
• pellagra -  a disease caused by deficiency of niacin or tryptophan (or by a defect in the metabolic conversion of tryptophan to niacin); characterized by gastrointestinal disturbances and erythema and nervous or mental disorders; may be caused by malnutrition or alcoholism or other nutritional impairments
• pentose -  any monosaccharide sugar containing five atoms of carbon per molecule
• peptide -  amide combining the amino group of one amino acid with the carboxyl group of another; usually obtained by partial hydrolysis of protein
• peptide bond -  the primary linkage of all protein structures; the chemical bond between the carboxyl groups and amino groups that unites a peptide
• perfumery -  the art of making perfumes; an establishment where perfumes are made; store where perfumes are sold; perfumes in general
• pericarditis -  inflammation of the pericardium
• period -  a punctuation mark (.) placed at the end of a declarative sentence to indicate a full stop or after abbreviations; the end or completion of something; a unit of geological time during which a system of rocks formed; one of three periods of play in hockey games; the interval taken to complete one cycle of a regularly repeating phenomenon; a stage in the history of a culture having a definable place in space and time; the monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause; an amount of time
• petroleum -  a dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons
• phenacetin -  a white crystalline compound used as an analgesic and also as an antipyretic
• phenol -  any of a class of weakly acidic organic compounds; molecule contains one or more hydroxyl groups; a toxic white soluble crystalline acidic derivative of benzene; used in manufacturing and as a disinfectant and antiseptic; poisonous if taken internally
• phentolamine -  a virility drug (trade name Vasomax) to treat erectile dysfunction in men
• phenylalanine -  an essential amino acid found in proteins and needed for growth of children and for protein metabolism in children and adults; abundant in milk and eggs; it is normally converted to tyrosine in the human body
• phenylbutazone -  anti-inflammatory drug (trade name Butazolidin)
• phosphate -  carbonated drink with fruit syrup and a little phosphoric acid; a salt of phosphoric acid
• phospholipid -  any of various compounds composed of fatty acids and phosphoric acid and a nitrogenous base; an important constituent of membranes
• phosphoprotein -  containing chemically bound phosphoric acid
• phosphoric acid -  an acid used in fertilizers and soaps: H3PO4
• phosphorus -  a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms; a planet (usually Venus) seen just before sunrise in the eastern sky
• photosynthesis -  synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants)
• phycoerythrin -  red pigment in red algae
• physician -  a licensed medical practitioner
• physiology -  processes and functions of an organism; the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms
• physostigmine -  used in treatment of Alzheimer's disease and glaucoma
• phytotoxin -  any substance produced by plants that is similar in its properties to extracellular bacterial toxin
• picasso -  prolific and influential Spanish artist who lived in France (1881-1973)
• pituitary -  of or relating to the pituitary gland; having abnormal size with overgrown extremities resulting from abnormal pituitary secretion;  the master gland of the endocrine system; located at the base of the brain
• plank -  an endorsed policy in the platform of a political party; a stout length of sawn timber; made in a wide variety of sizes and used for many purposes; verb cook and serve on a plank; cover with planks; set (something or oneself) down with or as if with a noise
• plant -  a living organism lacking the power of locomotion; buildings for carrying on industrial labor; something planted secretly for discovery by another; an actor situated in the audience whose acting is rehearsed but seems spontaneous to the audience; verb put firmly in the mind; place something or someone in a certain position in order to secretly observe or deceive; put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground; place into a river; fix or set securely or deeply; set up or lay the groundwork for
• plant hormone -  (botany) a plant product that acts like a hormone
• plant scientist -  a biologist specializing in the study of plants
• plastic -  capable of being influenced or formed; forming or capable of forming or molding or fashioning; capable of being molded or modeled (especially of earth or clay or other soft material);  generic name for certain synthetic or semisynthetic materials that can be molded or extruded into objects or films or filaments or used for making e.g. coatings and adhesives
• politician -  a person active in party politics; a leader engaged in civil administration; a schemer who tries to gain advantage in an organization in sly or underhanded ways
• polyarteritis nodosa -  a progressive disease of connective tissue that is characterized by nodules along arteries; nodules may block the artery and result in inadequate circulation to the particular area
• polydipsia -  excessive thirst (as in cases of diabetes or kidney dysfunction)
• polygonatum -  sometimes placed in subfamily Convallariaceae
• polymerase -  an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of new DNA and RNA from an existing strand of DNA or RNA
• polymyositis -  myositis characterized by weakness of limb and neck muscles and much muscle pain and swelling; progression and severity vary among individuals
• polysaccharide -  any of a class of carbohydrates whose molecules contain chains of monosaccharide molecules
• potash -  a potassium compound often used in agriculture and industry
• potassium -  a light soft silver-white metallic element of the alkali metal group; oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts violently with water; is abundant in nature in combined forms occurring in sea water and in carnallite and kainite and sylvite
• potassium chloride -  salt of potassium (KCl) (trade names K-Dur 20, Kaochlor and K-lor and Klorvess and K-lyte); taken in tablet form to treat potassium deficiency
• potomania -  an intense persistent desire to drink alcoholic beverages to excess
• powder -  any of various cosmetic or medical preparations dispensed in the form of a pulverized powder; a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized; a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks; verb apply powder to; make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust
• powdered sugar -  sugar granulated into a fine powder
• predation -  the act of preying by a predator who kills and eats the prey; an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding
• predator -  any animal that lives by preying on other animals; someone who attacks in search of booty
• prednisolone -  a glucocorticoid (trade names Pediapred or Prelone) used to treat inflammatory conditions
• pregnanediol -  a compound found in women's urine during certain phases of the menstrual cycle and in the urine of pregnant women
• procarbazine -  an antineoplastic drug used to treat Hodgkin's disease
• progesterone -  a steroid hormone (trade name Lipo-Lutin) produced in the ovary; prepares and maintains the uterus for pregnancy
• prolactin -  gonadotropic hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary; in females it stimulates growth of the mammary glands and lactation after parturition
• propane -  colorless gas found in natural gas and petroleum; used as a fuel
• prostaglandin -  a potent substance that acts like a hormone and is found in many bodily tissues (and especially in semen); produced in response to trauma and may affect blood pressure and metabolism and smooth muscle activity
• protamine -  a simple protein found in fish sperm; rich in arginine; simpler in composition than globulin or albumin; counteracts the anticoagulant effect of heparin
• protease -  any enzyme that catalyzes the splitting of proteins into smaller peptide fractions and amino acids by a process known as proteolysis
• protease inhibitor -  an antiviral drug used against HIV; interrupts HIV replication by binding and blocking HIV protease; often used in combination with other drugs
• protein -  any of a large group of nitrogenous organic compounds that are essential constituents of living cells; consist of polymers of amino acids; essential in the diet of animals for growth and for repair of tissues; can be obtained from meat and eggs and milk and legumes
• protein folding -  the process whereby a protein molecule assumes its intricate three-dimensional shape
• proteolysis -  the hydrolysis of proteins into peptides and amino acids by cleavage of their peptide bonds
• proteome -  the full complement of proteins produced by a particular genome
• proteomics -  the branch of genetics that studies the full set of proteins encoded by a genome
• provitamin -  vitamin precursor; a substance that is converted into a vitamin in animal tissues
• proximate -  very close in space or time; closest in degree or order (space or time) especially in a chain of causes and effects
• puddle -  a mixture of wet clay and sand that can be used to line a pond and that is impervious to water when dry; something resembling a pool of liquid; a small body of standing water (rainwater) or other liquid; verb make a puddle by splashing water; mess around, as in a liquid or paste; work a wet mixture, such as concrete or mud; dip into mud before planting; subject to puddling or form by puddling; wade or dabble in a puddle; eliminate urine; mix up or confuse; make into a puddle
• pull-up -  an arm exercise performed by pulling yourself up on a horizontal bar until your chin is level with the bar; a roadside cafe especially for lorry drivers
• push up - verb push upward; push upward
• pussy -  "a purulent wound";  informal terms referring to a domestic cat; obscene terms for female genitals
• putative -  commonly put forth or accepted as true on inconclusive grounds
• putrefaction -  a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor; moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles; (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
• pyridoxal -  a B vitamin that is essential for metabolism of amino acids and starch
• pyridoxamine -  a B vitamin that is essential for metabolism of amino acids and starch
• pyridoxine -  a B vitamin that is essential for metabolism of amino acids and starch
• pyrophosphate -  a salt or ester of pyrophosphoric acid
• quinidine -  cardiac drug (trade names Quinidex and Quinora) used to treat certain heart arrhythmias
• quinone -  any of a class of aromatic yellow compounds including several that are biologically important as coenzymes or acceptors or vitamins; used in making dyes
• raffinose -  a trisaccharide that occurs in sugar beets and cotton seeds and certain cereals
• receptor -  a cellular structure that is postulated to exist in order to mediate between a chemical agent that acts on nervous tissue and the physiological response; an organ having nerve endings (in the skin or viscera or eye or ear or nose or mouth) that respond to stimulation
• reductase -  an enzyme that catalyses the biochemical reduction of some specified substance
• refill -  a commercial product that refills a container with its appropriate contents; a prescription drug that is provided again; verb fill something that had previously been emptied
• refractometer -  measuring instrument for measuring the refractive index of a substance
• refrigeration -  deliberately lowering the body's temperature for therapeutic purposes; the process of cooling or freezing (e.g., food) for preservative purposes
• refrigerator -  white goods in which food can be stored at low temperatures
• refrigerator car -  a freight car that is equipped with refrigeration system
• regurgitation -  recall after rote memorization; backflow of blood through a defective heart valve; the reflex act of ejecting the contents of the stomach through the mouth
• reign -  royal authority; the dominion of a monarch; the period during which a monarch is sovereign; a period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful; verb have sovereign power; be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
• related -  connected by kinship, common origin, or marriage; being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics; having close kinship and appropriateness; similar or related in quality or character
• relentless -  never-ceasing; not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
• reload - verb place a new load on; load anew with ammunition, "She reloaded the gun carefully"
• remorse -  a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
• repeat -  an event that repeats; verb to say again or imitate; to say, state, or perform again; do over; happen or occur again; repeat an earlier theme of a composition; make or do or perform again
• repressor -  an agent that represses
• restaurant -  a building where people go to eat
• retinol -  an unsaturated alcohol that occurs in marine fish-liver oils and is synthesized biologically from carotene
• rheumatoid arthritis -  a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities; something (possibly a virus) triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system, which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint
• rhizobiaceae -  a small family of rod-shaped bacteria
• riboflavin -  a B vitamin that prevents skin lesions and weight loss
• ribonuclease -  a transferase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of ribonucleic acid
• ribose -  a pentose sugar important as a component of ribonucleic acid
• ricinoleic acid -  an oily fatty acid found in castor oil and used in soap
• rickets -  childhood disease caused by deficiency of vitamin D and sunlight associated with impaired metabolism of calcium and phosphorus
• robert falcon scott -  English explorer who reached the South Pole just a month after Amundsen; he and his party died on the return journey (1868-1912)
• rock candy -  sugar in large hard clear crystals on a string; hard bright-colored stick candy (typically flavored with peppermint)
• rolled oats -  meal made from rolled or ground oats
• root cellar -  an excavation where root vegetables are stored
• rose oil -  a volatile fragrant oil obtained from fresh roses by steam distillation
• rotavirus -  the reovirus causing infant enteritis
• royal jelly -  a secretion of the pharyngeal glands of bees that is fed to very young larvae and to bees destined to be queens
• royal purple -  a shade of purple tinged with red
• saccharic acid -  a white dicarboxylic acid formed from oxidation of sugar or starch
• saccharin -  a crystalline substance 500 times sweeter than sugar; used as a calorie-free sweetener
• sachs disease -  a hereditary disorder of lipid metabolism occuring most frequently in individuals of Jewish descent in eastern Europe; accumulation of lipids in nervous tissue results in death in early childhood
• safflower -  thistlelike Eurasian plant widely grown for its red or orange flower heads and seeds that yield a valuable oil
• safflower oil -  oil from seeds of the safflower plant; oil from safflower seeds used as food as well as in medicines and paints
• salicylic acid -  a white crystalline substance with a bitter aftertaste; used as a fungicide or in making aspirin or dyes or perfumes
• salt pork -  fat from the back and sides and belly of a hog carcass cured with salt
• salting -  the act of adding salt to food
• saponin -  any of various plant glucosides that form soapy lathers when mixed and agitated with water; used in detergents and foaming agents and emulsifiers
• sarcoidosis -  a chronic disease of unknown cause marked by the formation of nodules in the lungs and liver and lymph glands and salivary glands
• scalded milk -  milk heated almost to boiling
• scheme -  an elaborate and systematic plan of action; a schematic or preliminary plan; an internal representation of the world; an organization of concepts and actions that can be revised by new information about the world; a statement that evades the question by cleverness or trickery; a group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole; verb form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner; devise a system or form a scheme for
• schmaltz -  (Yiddish) excessive sentimentality in art or music
• scientist -  a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
• scleritis -  inflammation of the sclera
• scleroprotein -  a simple protein found in horny and cartilaginous tissues and in the lens of the eye
• sculpture -  creating figures or designs in three dimensions; a three-dimensional work of plastic art; verb shape (a material like stone or wood) by whittling away at it; create by shaping stone or wood or any other hard material
• scurvy -  of the most contemptible kind;  a condition caused by deficiency of ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
• season -  one of the natural periods into which the year is divided by the equinoxes and solstices or atmospheric conditions; a recurrent time marked by major holidays; a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field; verb make fit; lend flavor to; make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate
• sedative -  tending to soothe or tranquilize;  a drug that reduces excitability and calms a person
• selenium -  a toxic nonmetallic element related to sulfur and tellurium; occurs in several allotropic forms; a stable grey metallike allotrope conducts electricity better in the light than in the dark and is used in photocells; occurs in sulfide ores (as pyrite)
• senna obtusifolia -  cosmopolitan tropical herb or subshrub with yellow flowers and slender curved pods; a weed; sometimes placed in genus Cassia
• serum albumin -  albumin occurring in blood serum; serves to maintain the somatic pressure of the blood
• sesame oil -  oil obtained from sesame seeds
• seven seas -  an informal expression for all of the oceans of the world
• sexual practice -  activities associated with sexual intercourse
• shelf life -  the length of time a packaged food or drug will last without deteriorating
• shellac -  a thin varnish made by dissolving lac in ethanol; used to finish wood; lac purified by heating and filtering; usually in thin orange or yellow flakes but sometimes bleached white; verb cover with shellac
• shelling -  the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area rather than hit a specific target
• sherbet -  an ice containing milk
• shrill -  of colors that are bright and gaudy; being sharply insistent on being heard; having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones; verb utter a shrill cry
• silicon -  a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite and quartz and sand; used as a semiconductor in transistors
• sit-up -  an stomach exercise in which a person sits up from a supine position without using the arms for leverage
• ski wax -  wax used on the bottom of skis
• skyline -  the outline of objects seen against the sky; the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
• sleep apnea -  apnea that occurs during sleep
• slingshot -  a plaything consisting of a Y-shaped stick with elastic between the arms; used to propel small stones
• smokehouse -  a small house where smoke is used to cure meat or fish
• smoking -  emitting smoke in great volume;  the act of smoking tobacco or other substances; a hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion
• sobriety -  abstaining from excess; moderation in or abstinence from alcohol or other drugs; a manner that is serious and solemn; the state of being sober and not intoxicated by alcohol
• sodium -  a silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group; occurs abundantly in natural compounds (especially in salt water); burns with a yellow flame and reacts violently in water; occurs in sea water and in the mineral halite (rock salt)
• soft diet -  a diet that does not require chewing; advised for those with intestinal disorders
• soft drink -  nonalcoholic beverage (usually carbonated)
• software -  (computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory
• spearmint -  common garden herb having clusters of small purplish flowers and yielding an oil used as a flavoring
• special k -  street names for ketamine
• spencer -  English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)
• sperm oil -  an animal oil found in the blubber of the sperm whale
• spermaceti -  a white waxy substance from oil of the sperm whale
• spironolactone -  a synthetic corticosteroid (trade name Aldactone) used to treat hypertension
• spring -  a metal elastic device that returns to its shape or position when pushed or pulled or pressed; a point at which water issues forth; a natural flow of ground water; the season of growth; a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards; the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length; verb develop suddenly; produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; spring back; spring away from an impact; move forward by leaps and bounds; develop into a distinctive entity
• sprouting -  the process whereby seeds or spores sprout and begin to grow
• squat -  having a low center of gravity; built low to the ground; short and thick; as e.g. having short legs and heavy musculature;  the act of assuming or maintaining a crouching position with the knees bent and the buttocks near the heels; exercising by repeatedly assuming a crouching position with the knees bent; strengthens the leg muscles; a small worthless amount; verb sit on one's heels; occupy (a dwelling) illegally; be close to the earth, or be disproportionately wide
• stachyose -  a tetrasaccharide found in the tubers of the Chinese artichoke
• stacker -  a laborer who builds up a stack or pile
• starch -  a complex carbohydrate found chiefly in seeds, fruits, tubers, roots and stem pith of plants, notably in corn, potatoes, wheat, and rice; an important foodstuff and used otherwise especially in adhesives and as fillers and stiffeners for paper and textiles; verb stiffen with starch
• starvation -  the act of depriving of food or subjecting to famine; a state of extreme hunger resulting from lack of essential nutrients over a prolonged period
• stearic acid -  a waxy saturated fatty acid; occurs widely as a glyceride in animal and vegetable fats
• stearin -  an ester of glycerol and stearic acid
• steroid -  any of several fat-soluble organic compounds having as a basis 17 carbon atoms in four rings; many have important physiological effects; any hormone affecting the development and growth of sex organs
• steroid hormone -  any hormone affecting the development and growth of sex organs
• sterol -  any of a group of natural steroid alcohols derived from plants or animals; they are waxy insoluble substances
• stevia -  any plant of the genus Piqueria or the closely related genus Stevia; any plant of the genus Stevia or the closely related genus Piqueria having glutinous foliage and white or purplish flowers; Central and South America
• straight -  right; in keeping with the facts; successive (without a break); following a correct or logical method; (of hair) having no waves or curls; not homosexual; erect in posture; having no deviations; free from curves or angles; characterized by honesty and fairness; neatly arranged; not disorderly; rigidly conventional or old-fashioned; without water; without evasion or compromise; accurately fitted; level; no longer coiled;  in a straight line; in a direct course; without deviation; in a forthright manner; candidly or frankly;  a poker hand with 5 consecutive cards (regardless of suit); a straight segment of a roadway or racecourse; a heterosexual person; someone having a sexual orientation to persons of the opposite sex
• straw wine -  sweet wine from grapes partially sun-dried on the vine or on straw mats
• streptomycin -  an antibiotic produced by the actinomycete Streptomyces griseus and used to treat tuberculosis
• stride -  significant progress (especially in the phrase "make strides"); a step in walking or running; the distance covered by a step; verb cover or traverse by taking long steps; walk with long steps
• strongman -  a powerful political figure who rules by the exercise of force or violence; a man who performs feats of strength at a fair or circus
• structure -  a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; the manner of construction of something and the arrangement of its parts; a particular complex anatomical part; the complex composition of knowledge as elements and their combinations; the people in a society considered as a system organized by a characteristic pattern of relationships; verb give a structure to
• strychnine -  an alkaloid plant toxin extracted chiefly from nux vomica; formerly used as a stimulant
• subfamily -  (biology) a taxonomic category below a family
• substrate -  an indigenous language that contributes features to the language of an invading people who impose their language on the indigenous population; any stratum or layer lying underneath another; a surface on which an organism grows or is attached; the substance that is acted upon by an enzyme or ferment
• subunit -  a monetary unit that is valued at a fraction (usually one hundredth) of the basic monetary unit
• sucralfate -  medicine consisting of a tablet (trade name Carafate) used to treat peptic ulcers; said to bind to the ulcer site and coat it
• sucrose -  a complex carbohydrate found in many plants and used as a sweetening agent
• suffragist -  an advocate of the extension of voting rights (especially to women)
• sugar -  a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative; informal terms for money; an essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals; includes simple sugars with small molecules as well as macromolecular substances; are classified according to the number of monosaccharide groups they contain; verb sweeten with sugar
• sugar beet -  white-rooted beet grown as a source of sugar; form of the common beet having a sweet white root from which sugar is obtained
• sugar candy -  made by boiling pure sugar until it hardens
• sugar daddy -  a wealthy older man who gives a young person expensive gifts in return for friendship or intimacy
• sugar refinery -  a refinery for sugar
• sugarcane -  tall tropical southeast Asian grass having stout fibrous jointed stalks; sap is a chief source of sugar; juicy canes whose sap is a source of molasses and commercial sugar; fresh canes are sometimes chewed for the juice
• sugarloaf -  a large conical loaf of concentrated refined sugar
• sulfamethoxazole -  a sulfonamide (trade name Gantanol) used to treat infections (especially infections of the urinary tract)
• sulfate -  a salt or ester of sulphuric acid; verb convert into a sulfate
• sulfonamide -  antibacterial consisting of any of several synthetic organic compounds capable of inhibiting the growth of bacteria that require PABA
• sulfonylurea -  antidiabetic consisting of any of several drugs that reduce the level of glucose in the blood; used to treat diabetes mellitus
• sulfur -  an abundant tasteless odorless multivalent nonmetallic element; best known in yellow crystals; occurs in many sulphide and sulphate minerals and even in native form (especially in volcanic regions); verb treat with sulphur in order to preserve
• sunflower oil -  oil from sunflower seeds
• superoxide dismutase -  an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of superoxide into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen
• supplement -  a quantity added (e.g. to make up for a deficiency); a supplementary component that improves capability; textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end; verb add as a supplement to what seems insufficient; serve as a supplement to; add to the very end
• sweet -  pleasing to the senses; (used of wines) having a high residual sugar content; having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar; having a natural fragrance; not containing or composed of salt water; having a sweet nature befitting an angel or cherub; pleasing to the ear; pleasing to the mind or feeling; with sweetening added; not soured or preserved;  in an affectionate or loving manner (`sweet' is sometimes a poetic or informal variant of `sweetly');  the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth; a food rich in sugar; English phonetician; one of the founders of modern phonetics (1845-1912); the property of tasting as if it contains sugar; a dish served as the last course of a meal
• sweet sorghum -  any of several sorghums cultivated as a source of syrup
• sweetener -  anything that serves as an enticement; something added to foods to make them taste sweeter
• syndrome -  a complex of concurrent things; a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease
• syrup -  a thick sweet sticky liquid
• taffy -  chewy candy of sugar or syrup boiled until thick and pulled until glossy
• takayasu's arteritis -  disorder characterized by the absence of a pulse in both arms and in the carotid arteries
• tall oil -  an oil derived from wood pulp and used in making soaps or lubricants
• tallow -  obtained from suet and used in making soap, candles and lubricants
• tango -  a ballroom dance of Latin-American origin; music written in duple time for dancing the tango; verb dance a tango
• tannin -  any of various complex phenolic substances of plant origin; used in tanning and in medicine
• tap water -  water directly from the spigot
• technology -  the practical application of science to commerce or industry; the discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems
• telomerase -  an enzyme in eukaryotic cells that can add telomeres to the ends of chromosomes after they divide
• testosterone -  a potent androgenic hormone produced chiefly by the testes; responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics
• tetrasaccharide -  any of a variety of carbohydrates that yield four monosaccharide molecules on complete hydrolysis
• tetrose -  any monosaccharide sugar containing four atoms of carbon per molecule
• theseus -  (Greek mythology) a hero and king of Athens who was noted for his many great deeds: killed Procrustes and the Minotaur and defeated the Amazons and united Attica
• thiamine -  a B vitamin that prevents beriberi; maintains appetite and growth
• thirst -  a physiological need to drink; strong desire for something (not food or drink); verb feel the need to drink; have a craving, appetite, or great desire for
• threonine -  a colorless crystalline amino acid found in protein; occurs in the hydrolysates of certain proteins; an essential component of human nutrition
• thyme -  leaves can be used as seasoning for almost any meat and stews and stuffings and vegetables; any of various mints of the genus Thymus
• thymol -  a colorless crystalline solid used in perfume or preserving biological specimens or in embalming or medically as a fungicide or antiseptic
• thyroxine -  hormone produced by the thyroid glands to regulate metabolism by controlling the rate of oxidation in cells
• tilt -  the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical; a slight but noticeable partiality; pitching dangerously to one side; a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; a combat between two mounted knights tilting against each other with blunted lances; verb charge with a tilt; heel over; move sideways or in an unsteady way; to incline or bend from a vertical position
• timolol -  a beta blocker (trade name Blocadren) administered after heart attacks
• tipper -  a person who leaves a tip; truck whose contents can be emptied without handling; the front end of the platform can be pneumatically raised so that the load is discharged by gravity
• tobramycin -  an antibiotic (trade name Nebcin) that is especially effective against Gram-negative bacteria
• tocopherol -  a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body
• toffee -  caramelized sugar cooled in thin sheets
• tolazoline -  vasodilator that is used to treat spasms of peripheral blood vessels (as in acrocyanosis)
• tolbutamide -  sulfonylurea; an oral antidiabetic drug (trade name Orinase) used in the treatment of adult-onset diabetes mellitus
• tonic water -  lime- or lemon-flavored carbonated water containing quinine
• toxin -  a poisonous substance produced during the metabolism and growth of certain microorganisms and some higher plant and animal species
• trace element -  an element that occurs at very small quantities in the body but is nonetheless important for many biological processes
• transporter -  a crane for moving material with dispatch as in loading and unloading ships; a long truck for carrying motor vehicles; a moving belt that transports objects (as in a factory)
• treacle -  an expression that is excessively sweet and sentimental; a pale cane syrup
• treaty -  a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
• treponema -  spirochete that causes disease in humans (e.g. syphilis and yaws)
• trial -  (law) legal proceedings consisting of the judicial examination of issues by a competent tribunal; (law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law; trying something to find out about it; an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event; (sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications; the act of testing something; the act of undergoing testing
• tributyrin -  a bitter oily triglyceride of butyric acid; a form of butyrin
• triglyceride -  glyceride occurring naturally in animal and vegetable tissues; it consists of three individual fatty acids bound together in a single large molecule; an important energy source forming much of the fat stored by the body
• triolein -  a naturally occuring glyceride of oleic acid that is found in fats and oils
• triose -  any monosaccharide sugar containing three atoms of carbon per molecule
• tripalmitin -  a triglyceride of palmitic acid
• trisaccharide -  any of a variety of carbohydrates that yield three monosaccharide molecules on complete hydrolysis
• tropical sprue -  a chronic disorder that occurs in tropical and non-tropical forms and in both children and adults; nutrients are not absorbed; symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and emaciation
• tryptophan -  an amino acid that occurs in proteins; is essential for growth and normal metabolism; a precursor of niacin
• tumor necrosis factor -  a proinflammatory cytokine that is produced by white blood cells (monocytes and macrophages); has an antineoplastic effect but causes inflammation (as in rheumatoid arthritis)
• twist -  turning or twisting around (in place); social dancing in which couples vigorously twist their hips and arms in time to the music; was popular in the 1960s; a jerky pulling movement; any clever maneuver; the act of rotating rapidly; the act of winding or twisting; a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair; an interpretation of a text or action; an unforeseen development; a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind resulting when the current of a fluid doubles back on itself; a circular segment of a curve; a sharp bend in a line produced when a line having a loop is pulled tight; a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments; verb twist suddenly so as to sprain; form into twists; practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive; turn in the opposite direction; form into a spiral shape; do the twist; cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form; twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates; to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling); extend in curves and turns
• ubiquinone -  any of several quinones found in living cells and that function as coenzymes that transfer electrons from one molecule to another in cell respiration
• ulcerative colitis -  a serious chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine and rectum characterized by recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and fever and chills and profuse diarrhea
• ullage -  the amount that a container (as a wine bottle or tank) lacks of being full
• undecylenic acid -  an acid that is a component of perspiration
• underweight -  being very thin
• united states -  North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776; the executive and legislative and judicial branches of the federal government of the United States
• urge -  a strong restless desire; an instinctive motive; verb force or impel in an indicated direction; urge on or encourage especially by shouts; push for something
• uveitis -  inflammation of the uvea of the eye
• valeric acid -  a clear liquid carboxylic acid used in perfumes and drugs
• valine -  an essential amino acid found in proteins; important for growth in children and nitrogen balance in adults
• vanadium -  a soft silvery white toxic metallic element used in steel alloys; it occurs in several complex minerals including carnotite and vanadinite
• vanillin -  a crystalline compound found in vanilla beans and some balsam resins; used in perfumes and flavorings
• vault -  the act of jumping over an obstacle; an arched brick or stone ceiling or roof; a burial chamber (usually underground); a strongroom or compartment (often made of steel) for safekeeping of valuables; verb bound vigorously; jump across or leap over (an obstacle)
• vegetarianism -  a diet excluding all meat and fish
• vitamin -  any of a group of organic substances essential in small quantities to normal metabolism
• vitamin a -  any of several fat-soluble vitamins essential for normal vision; prevents night blindness or inflammation or dryness of the eyes
• vitamin b -  originally thought to be a single vitamin but now separated into several B vitamins
• vitamin c -  a vitamin found in fresh fruits (especially citrus fruits) and vegetables; prevents scurvy
• vitamin d -  a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
• vitamin e -  a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body
• vitamin k -  a fat-soluble vitamin that helps in the clotting of blood
• vitus bering -  Danish explorer who explored the northern Pacific Ocean for the Russians and discovered the Bering Strait (1681-1741)
• waist -  the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips; the narrow part of the shoe connecting the heel and the wide part of the sole
• walker -  an enclosing framework on casters or wheels; helps babies learn to walk; a light enclosing framework (trade name Zimmer) with rubber castors or wheels and handles; helps invalids or the handicapped or the aged to walk; a shoe designed for comfortable walking; United States writer (born in 1944); New Zealand runner who in 1975 became the first person to run a mile in less that 3 minutes and 50 seconds (born in 1952); a person who travels by foot
• walnut oil -  oil from walnuts
• water -  a fluid necessary for the life of most animals and plants; binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent; once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles); a facility that provides a source of water; the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean); liquid excretory product; verb secrete or form water, as tears or saliva; supply with water, as with channels or ditches or streams; fill with tears; provide with water
• water filter -  a filter to remove impurities from the water supply
• water supply -  a facility that provides a source of water
• watering can -  a container with a handle and a spout with a perforated nozzle; used to sprinkle water over plants
• weaning -  the act of substituting other food for the mother's milk in the diet of a child or young mammal
• wednesday -  the fourth day of the week; the third working day
• wernicke -  German neurologist best known for his studies of aphasia (1848-1905)
• wet-nurse -  a woman hired to suckle a child of someone else; verb give suck to
• whale oil -  a white to brown oil obtained from whale blubber; formerly used as an illuminant
• wheatgrass -  a grass of the genus Agropyron
• whole -  including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete; (of siblings) having the same parents; acting together as a single undiversified whole; exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health; not impaired or diminished in any way; wholly unharmed; including everything;  to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly');  an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity; all of something including all its component elements or parts
• wilson's disease -  a rare inherited disorder of copper metabolism; copper accumulates in the liver and then in the red blood cells and brain
• winepress -  a press that is used to extract the juice from grapes
• worker -  sterile member of a colony of social insects that forages for food and cares for the larvae; a person who works at a specific occupation; a person who acts and gets things done; a member of the working class (not necessarily employed)
• wrench -  a hand tool that is used to hold or twist a nut or bolt; a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments; a jerky pulling movement; verb twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates; make a sudden twisting motion; twist suddenly so as to sprain; twist and compress, as if in pain or anguish
• xanthophyll -  yellow carotenoid pigments in plants and animal fats and egg yolks
• xerophthalmia -  abnormal dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eyes; may be due to a systemic deficiency of vitamin A
• zeaxanthin -  yellow carotenoid (isomeric with lutein and occurs widely with it) that is the main pigment in yellow Indian corn
• zinc deficiency -  a deficiency caused by inadequate zinc in the diet or by liver disease or cystic fibrosis or other diseases
• zinc sulfate -  a colorless water-soluble powder; used as a mordant or to preserve wood or for the electrodeposition of zinc

Summary

Nutrients play an indispensable role in supporting life. Through balanced nutrition, individuals can provide their bodies with the necessary materials to maintain health, support growth, and prevent disease.

References

• [1] Whitney E, Rolfes SR. (2018). Understanding Nutrition. 15th edition. Cengage Learning.
• [2] Gropper SS, Smith JL, Carr TP. (2020). Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism. 7th edition. Cengage Learning.

Nutrient Resources
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