OXFORD DICTIONARY
vitamin, n. any of a group of organic compounds essential in small amounts for many living organisms to maintain normal health and development.
vitamin A = RETINOL. vitamin B complex (or B vitamins) any of a group of vitamins which, although not chemically related, are often found together in the same foods. vitamin B1 = THIAMINE. vitamin B2 = RIBOFLAVIN. vitamin B6 = PYRIDOXINE. vitamin B12 = CYANOCOBALAMIN. vitamin C = ASCORBIC ACID. vitamin D any of a group of vitamins found in liver and fish oils, essential for the absorption of calcium and the prevention of rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. vitamin D2 = CALCIFEROL. vitamin D3 = CHOLECALCIFEROL. vitamin E = TOCOPHEROL. vitamin K any of a group of vitamins found mainly in green leaves and essential for the blood-clotting process. vitamin K1 = PHYLLOQUINONE. vitamin K2 = MENAQUINONE. vitamin M esp. US = FOLIC ACID.
orig. vitamine f. L vita life + AMINE, because orig. thought to contain an amino acid
THESAURUS
vitamin
adermin, adjuvant, aneurin, antiberi-beri factor, ascorbic acid, axerophthol, biotin, carminative, carotene, cholecalciferol, choline, cobalamin, counterirritant, cryptoxanthin, cyanocobalamin, emmenagogue, ergocalciferol, expectorant, folic acid, hepatoflavin, hormone, inositol, lactoflavin, maturative, menadione, naphthoquinone, niacin, nicotinic acid, ovoflavin, pyridoxine, tocopherol, vasodilator,
vitamin B,
vitamin Bc,
vitamin D,
vitamin G,
vitamin H,
vitamin K,
vitamin M