carbohydrates

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Nutrients such as sugars and starches that give the body energy, found in foods like bread, rice and fruit.

   Grammar: Plural for food groups: carbohydrates give energy.

   Patterns

   • eat carbohydrates
   • a diet high in carbohydrates

   Pasta and potatoes are rich in carbohydrates.

   Athletes often eat carbohydrates before a race.

   Some people try to cut back on refined carbohydrates.

2. 2nounpluralchemistry

   In chemistry, organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, including sugars, starch and cellulose.

   Grammar: Usually plural as a class of compounds.

   Patterns

   • break down carbohydrates

   Plants make carbohydrates during photosynthesis.

   Enzymes break complex carbohydrates into simple sugars.

   Cellulose is one of the most abundant carbohydrates on Earth.

Word forms

Common combinations

complex carbohydrates

Oats and beans are sources of complex carbohydrates.

refined carbohydrates

White bread contains refined carbohydrates.

digest carbohydrates

The body digests carbohydrates into glucose.

cut down on carbohydrates

He tried to cut down on carbohydrates at dinner.

rich in carbohydrates

Rice is rich in carbohydrates.

Synonyms and how they differ

carbs

It is the informal everyday shortening, common in diet talk but not in scientific writing.

starches

It names only one kind of carbohydrate, so it is narrower.

sugars

It covers only the simple carbohydrates, not starches or fiber.

Word family

carbohydrate noun

the singular form of the word

carb noun

informal short form

hydrate verb

to supply with water

carbonate noun

a compound containing carbon and oxygen, a different term

Commonly confused: carbohydrates or hydrocarbons?

Practice

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