antioxidant: Meaning and Definition of

an•ti•ox•i•dant

Pronunciation: (an"tē-ok'si-dunt, an"tī-), [key]
— n.
  1. any substance that inhibits oxidation, as a substance that inhibits oxidative deterioration of gasoline, rubbers, plastics, soaps, etc.
  2. an enzyme or other organic substance, as vitamin E or beta carotene, that is capable of counteracting the damaging effects of oxidation in animal tissues.
—adj.
  1. of or pertaining to an antioxidant.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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