Noun: carotene 'ker-u,teen [N. Amer], 'ka-ru,teen [Brit]
- Yellow or orange-red fat-soluble pigments in plants
"Carrots get their orange colour from carotene"
- An orange isomer of an unsaturated hydrocarbon found in many plants; is converted into vitamin A in the liver
"Sweet potatoes get their orange colour from carotene";
- provitamin A, carotin
Derived forms: carotenes
Type of: carotenoid, provitamin
Encyclopedia: Carotene