carotene

noun
/ˈkæɹ.əˌtiːn/

A class of tetraterpene plant pigments; they vary in colour from yellow, through orange to red, this colour originating in a chain of alternating single and double bonds.

Other meanings

Specifically, a number of isomers of tetraterpene hydrocarbons, C40H56, (especially beta-carotene), present in carrots etc, which are converted into vitamin A in the liver.

Kinds of carotene

beta-carotene

Related words

carotenemia
carotenoderma
carotenogenesis
carotenogenic
carotenol
carotenosis
zeacarotene
beta-carotene

Example sentences

“Beta-carotene also helps to keep your skin healthy and young-looking.”
Tatoeba · Cangarejo · CC0

Where this comes from

This definition is adapted from “carotene” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; example sentences are from Tatoeba, credited to their authors above; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.