nutrition
UK[njuːˈtrɪʃn]US[nuːˈtrɪʃn]
n
The process by which living things receive the food necessary for them to grow and be healthy.
n
The scientific study of food and drink and how it affects health.
Morpheme Breakdown
nutri
tion
nutri
nourish
tion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'nutrition' has a direct lineage from Latin, entering English via Middle French. Its core component, 'nutri-', stems from the Latin 'nutrire', which carries the fundamental sense of feeding and sustaining life, particularly through nursing or providing nourishment. This root is traceable further back to the Proto-Indo-European (s)naH-, related to flowing and streaming, metaphorically extended to the flow of mother's milk. The suffix '-tion' systematically converts the action of nourishing into the noun denoting the process itself. Thus, the modern abstract concept of 'nutrition' logically evolves from the ancient, literal act of providing life-sustaining food.
Analysis
Structure: nutri (nourish) + tion (noun suffix)
'nutri' originates from the Latin verb 'nutrire', meaning 'to nourish, suckle, or feed'. 'tion' is a noun-forming suffix of Latin origin ('-tio'), indicating an action, process, or state.
Examples
A balanced diet is essential for good nutrition.
She studied nutrition and dietetics at university.
The nutrition label on the package lists all the ingredients and calories.