I. noun
also ca·rot·i·noid kəˈrät ə nˌȯid
( -s )
Etymology: carotene, carotin + -oid
: any of several highly unsaturated pigments (as carotenes and xanthophylls) most of which are yellow, orange, or red and many of which occur widely in plants, especially in all green tissues, and in animals, being characterized chemically by a long aliphatic polyene chain composed of isoprene units — compare lipochrome
II. adjective
also carotinoid “
: relating to or consisting of a carotenoid