beta-carotene

UK/biː.təˈkæɹ.ə.tiːn/US/ˌbeɪ.təˈkæɹ.əˌtin/US[ˌbeɪ.ɾəˈkæɹ.əˌtin]/ˌbeɪ.təˈkɛɹ.əˌtin/

noun

A plant pigment that is an isomer of carotene, found in dark green and dark yellow vegetables and fruits and important in the diet as a precursor of vitamin A.

OriginEnglish carotene ← Middle English karette ← Middle French carotte →
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Meanings

nounbeta-carotene (uncountable)

alternative betacarotene · alternative beta carotene · alternative β-carotene

  1. uncountablebiochemistryA plant pigment that is an isomer of carotene, found in dark green and dark yellow vegetables and fruits and important in the diet as a precursor of vitamin A.

Origin

  1. Proto-Semitic*bayt-
  2. Phoenician𐤁𐤕 (bt)
  3. Ancient Greekβῆτᾰ (bêtă)
  4. Englishbeta
  5. Ancient Greekκαρώ (karṓ)der.?
  6. Ancient Greekκαρωτόν (karōtón)
  7. Latincarōta
  8. Middle Frenchcarotte
  9. Middle Englishkarette
  10. Englishcar(r)ot
  11. Englishcarotene
  12. Englishbeta-carotene

From beta + carotene.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin β-胡蘿蔔素 /β-胡萝卜素
  • β-胡蘿蔔素 /β-胡萝卜素 (bèitǎ-húluóbosù)Translations
Finnish beetakaroteeni
  • beetakaroteeniTranslations
French bêta-carotène
  • bêta-carotèneTranslations
Indonesian beta karoten
  • beta karotenTranslations
Japanese ベータカロテン, βカロテン
  • ベータカロテンTranslations
  • βカロテン (bētakaroten)Translations
Polish beta-karoten
  • beta-karotenTranslations
Spanish betacaroteno
  • betacarotenoTranslations
Turkish beta karoten
  • beta karotenTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

beta-carotene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beta-carotene

MLA

“beta-carotene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beta-carotene. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “beta-carotene,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beta-carotene.

Source: beta-carotene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.