vitamin A

vitamin A

n.

A fat-soluble vitamin or a mixture of vitamins, especially vitamin A₁ or a mixture of vitamins A₁ and A₂, occurring principally in fish-liver oils, milk, and some yellow and dark green vegetables, and functioning in normal cell growth and development. Its deficiency causes hardening and roughening of the skin, night blindness, and degeneration of mucous membranes. Also called retinol.

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vitamin A₁

n.

A yellow crystalline compound, C₂₀H₃₀O, extracted from egg yolks, milk, and cod-liver oil.

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vitamin A

A fat-soluble vitamin important for normal vision, tissue growth, and healthy skin. It is found in fish-liver oils, milk, green leafy vegetables, and red, orange, and yellow vegetables and fruits. A deficiency of vitamin A in humans causes poor vision at night and damage to the skin and mucous membranes. Also called retinol. Chemical formula: C₂₀H₃₀O.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

vitamin A - any of several fat-soluble vitamins essential for normal vision; prevents night blindness or inflammation or dryness of the eyes antiophthalmic factor, axerophthol, A fat-soluble vitamin - any vitamin that is soluble in fats retinol, vitamin A1 - an unsaturated alcohol that occurs in marine fish-liver oils and is synthesized biologically from carotene dehydroretinol, vitamin A2 - a viscous alcohol that is less active in mammals than is vitamin A1