Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1900-2000
Language: Latin
Origin: vita ( VITAL) + English amine ( AMINO ACID); because it was at first believed to contain an amino acid

vitamin

 noun
     
Related topics: Nutrition, Chemistry
vit‧a‧min [countable]
1DFN a chemical substance in food that is necessary for good health:
Try to eat foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals.
vitamin A/B/C etc (=a particular type of vitamin)
Lack of vitamin E can cause skin diseases and tiredness.
2 also vitamin pill also vitamin supplement a pill containing vitamins:
Perhaps I ought to take vitamins.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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