macronutrient: Meaning and Definition of

mac•ro•nu•tri•ent

Pronunciation: (mak"rō-n'trē-unt, -ny'-), [key]
— n.
  1. any of the nutritional components of the diet that are required in relatively large amounts: protein, carbohydrate, fat, and the macrominerals.
  2. any of the three chemical elements required by plants in relatively large amounts: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Cf.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.