nutrition

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French nutrition, from Old French nutricion, from Latin nutritio.

noun

1. (biology) The organic process by which an organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and maintenance.
   In the dead state all is apparently without motion. No agent within indicates design, intelligence, or foresight: there is no respiration; no digestion, circulation, or nutrition; […] 1822, John Barclay, chapter I, in An Inquiry Into the Opinions, Ancient and Modern, Concerning Life and Organization, Edinburgh, London: Bell & Bradfute; Waugh & Innes; G. & W. B. Whittaker, section I, page 2
2. That which nourishes; nutriment.
   I accidentally ate a worm which was in my apple - my uncle said the extra nutrition would do me good.