vitamin
vitamin Lexical Profile
vitamin Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of a group of organic compounds that are essential for normal growth and nutrition, required in small quantities in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body.
"Citrus fruits are an excellent natural source of vitamin C."
A pill, capsule, or dietary supplement containing one or more of these essential organic compounds, taken to promote health or compensate for a deficient diet.
"She takes a chewable vitamin every morning with her breakfast."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1912 by Polish biochemist Casimir Funk from the Latin 'vita' (life) and 'amine' (because the compounds were originally thought to contain amino acids). The final 'e' was dropped in 1920 when it was discovered that not all vitamins are amines.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.