nu ‧ tri ‧ ent /ˈnjuːtriənt $ ˈnuː-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: present participle of nutrire 'to feed, nourish' ]
a chemical or food that provides what is needed for plants or animals to live and grow:
The plant absorbs nutrients from the soil.
—nutrient adjective