n.
Pronunciation: - ' nü-tr ē - ə nt, - ' nyü-
Function: noun
Date: 1942
1 : a chemical element (as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium) of which relatively large quantities are essential to the growth and health of a plant
2 : a substance (as protein or carbohydrate) essential in large amounts to the growth and health of an animal ― compare MICRONUTRIENT 2