nutrient
noun /ˈnjuːtriənt/
  /ˈnuːtriənt/
 (specialist)- a substance that is needed to keep a living thing alive and to help it to grow
- a lack of essential nutrients
 - Plants draw minerals and other nutrients from the soil.
 - children suffering from a serious nutrient deficiency
 
Collocations Diet and exerciseDiet and exerciseWeight- put on/gain/lose weight/a few kilos/a few pounds
 - watch/control/struggle with your weight
 - be/become seriously overweight/underweight
 - be/become clinically/morbidly obese
 - achieve/facilitate/promote/stimulate weight loss
 - slim down to 70 kilos/(British English) 11 stone/(especially North American English) 160 pounds
 - combat/prevent/tackle/treat obesity
 - develop/have/suffer from/struggle with/recover from anorexia/bulimia/an eating disorder
 - be on/go on/follow a crash/strict diet
 - have/suffer from a negative/poor body image
 - have/develop a positive/healthy body image
 
- eat a balanced diet/healthily/sensibly
 - get/provide/receive adequate/proper nutrition
 - contain/get/provide essential nutrients/vitamins/minerals
 - be high/low in calories/fat/fibre/protein/vitamin D/Omega-3 fatty acids
 - contain (no)/use/be full of/be free from additives/chemical preservatives/artificial sweeteners
 - avoid/cut down on/cut out alcohol/caffeine/fatty foods
 - stop/give up/ (especially North American English) quit smoking
 
- (British English) take regular exercise
 - do moderate/strenuous/vigorous exercise
 - play football/hockey/tennis
 - go cycling/jogging/running
 - go to/visit/ (especially North American English) hit/work out at the gym
 - strengthen/tone/train your stomach muscles
 - contract/relax/stretch/use/work your lower-body muscles
 - build (up)/gain muscle
 - improve/increase your stamina/energy levels/physical fitness
 - burn/consume/expend calories
 
- be/get/keep/stay healthy/in shape/(especially British English) fit
 - lower your cholesterol/blood pressure
 - boost/stimulate/strengthen your immune system
 - prevent/reduce the risk of heart disease/high blood pressure/diabetes/osteoporosis
 - reduce/relieve/manage/combat stress
 - enhance/promote relaxation/physical and mental well-being
 
Collocations The living worldThe living worldAnimalsTopics Biologyb2- animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
 - fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
 - birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
 - insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
 - insects/bees/locusts swarm
 - bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
 - spiders spin/weave a web
 - snakes/lizards shed their skins
 - bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
 - insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
 - an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
 - attract/find/choose a mate
 - produce/release eggs/sperm
 - lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
 - inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
 - mark/enter/defend (a) territory
 - stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
 
- trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
 - a seed germinates/sprouts
 - leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
 - flower buds swell/open
 - a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
 - pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
 - produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
 - produce/bear fruit
 - develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
 - provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
 - perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
 
- bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
 - bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
 - bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
 - bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
 - a virus enters/invades something/the body
 - a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
 - be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
 - contain/carry/harbour bacteria/a virus
 - kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
 
Oxford Collocations DictionaryNutrient is used before these nouns:- deficiency
 - intake
 
- manure
 
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Latin nutrient- ‘nourishing’, from the verb nutrire.