any of four orange-red isomers of an unsaturated hydrocarbon present in many plants (β-carotene is the orange pigment of carrots) and converted to vitamin A in the liver. Formula: C40H56
Word origin
C19 carotin, from Latin carōtacarrot; see -ene
carotene in American English
(ˈkærəˌtin)
noun
any of several red or orange-colored isomeric hydrocarbons, C40H56, found in butter and in carrots and certain other vegetables, and changed into vitamin A in the liver