carbohydrate

carbohydrate — noun

1. a nutrient in things like rice, bread, and potatoes that the body turns into sug

1.nounB1
Definition

a nutrient in things like rice, bread, and potatoes that the body turns into sugar and uses as energy to move, think, and stay alive

Example

Carbohydrates give the body the fuel it needs to work and play.

For a quick energy boost, Yara eats a banana for its carbohydrates.

collocation: energy boost

Common collocations
  • complex carbohydrates
  • simple carbohydrates
  • refined carbohydrates
  • carbohydrate intake
  • carbohydrate-rich foods
  • slow-release carbohydrates
  • processed carbohydrates
Synonyms
  • starch

    a specific type of carbohydrate found in grains and potatoes; narrower in meaning

  • sugar

    a simple carbohydrate; often used for sweet foods only

  • carbs

    informal shortening of 'carbohydrates', very common in casual speech

Antonyms
  • protein

    a different macronutrient that builds and repairs tissue rather than providing quick energy

  • fat

    a different macronutrient that stores energy rather than providing it quickly

Grammar Patterns

carbohydrate / carbohydrates

Usage Note

Can be either countable (referring to types or sources: 'eat more carbohydrates') or uncountable (the substance in general: 'this food is high in carbohydrate'). The countable form is more common in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

I need more carbohydrate in my diet.
I need more carbohydrates in my diet.
When talking about foods or sources, the plural form is more natural.
Carbohydrate is bad for you.
Refined carbohydrates can be unhealthy in large amounts.
Not all carbohydrates are bad; the blanket statement is misleading.

Word family

  • carb
    nounB1
  • low-carb
    adjectiveB1
  • carbohydrate-rich
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms belong to the same broad category of carbohydrates but differ in scope and usage. 'Carbs' is the most general informal term — it can refer to any carbohydrate food or substance ('pasta is full of carbs'). 'Starch' refers specifically to complex carbohydrates found in grains, potatoes, and legumes; it is a subtype of carbohydrate, not a synonym. 'Sugar' covers simple carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose) and is associated with sweetness — not all carbohydrates are sugars. 'Fiber' is a carbohydrate that the body cannot digest, so it does not provide energy like other carbs. In everyday speech, a Taiwanese learner might say 'I'm cutting down on carbs' (informal, broad) but 'potatoes are high in starch' (specific) and 'this juice contains too much sugar' (simple carbs).

carbsstarchsugar ↗fiber ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • source of carbohydrate
  • high in carbohydrates
  • rich in carbohydrates
  • low in carbohydrates

Prepositions

  • in carbohydrates
  • from carbohydrates

Etymology

LatinGreekGermanEnglish

The word 'carbohydrate' was coined around 1860 by German chemist Carl Schmidt, who combined 'carbon' (from Latin 'carbo' meaning charcoal) with 'hydrate' (from Greek 'hydor' meaning water). The name arose because early chemists observed that these compounds contained carbon atoms along with hydrogen and oxygen in the same two-to-one ratio found in water. The term entered English scientific usage later in the 19th century.