Microminerals

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Elements required in trace amounts for proper physiological functions
2. Essential nutrients that assist in various biochemical processes in the body, despite being needed in minute quantities
3. Vital components found in small amounts, playing crucial roles in metabolic activities and overall health

Etymology: "Microminerals" is simply the plural of "micromineral," a compound formed from the prefix "micro-" (from Greek "mikros," small) and "mineral." The term describes trace minerals the body needs in very small quantities, such as iron, zinc, iodine and selenium, in contrast to macrominerals like calcium and phosphorus, which are needed in larger amounts. The base word "mineral" has a longer history, coming into English from Medieval Latin "minerale," originally referring to material dug from mines. Its nutritional sense is a modern extension, while the "micro-" element is a combining form that English speakers use freely to mark something small or on a tiny scale.