carotenoid

noun

1. any of a group of red and yellow pigments, chemically similar to carotene, contained in animal fat and some plants.

adjective

2. similar to carotene.
3. pertaining to carotenoids.

noun

1. any of a group of red or yellow pigments, including carotenes, found in plants and certain animal tissues

adjective

2. of or resembling carotene or a carotenoid

n.

1913, from German carotinoïde (1911), from carotin (see carotene) + -oid.

n.

1. Any of a class of yellow to red pigments, including the carotenes and the xanthophylls.

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or characterizing such a pigment.

1. Any of a class of yellow to red pigments found especially in plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria. Carotenoids generally consist of conjoined units of the hydrocarbon isoprene, with alternating single and double bonds. The carotenoids absorb light energy of certain frequencies and transfer it to chlorophyll for use in photosynthesis. They also act as antioxidants for chlorophyll, protecting it from damage by oxidation in the presence of sunlight. Carotenoids are nutritionally important for many animals, giving flamingoes their color, for example, and also have antioxidant properties. There are many types of carotenoids, including carotenes and xanthophylls. See more at photosynthesis.