Nutritive \Nu"tri*tive\, a. [Cf. F. nutritif.] Of or pertaining to nutrition; as, the nutritive functions; having the quality of nourishing; nutritious; nutrimental; alimental; as, nutritive food or berries. {Nutritive plasma}. (Biol.) See {Idioplasma}. {Nutritive polyp} (Zo["o]l.), any one of the zooids of a compound hydroid, or coral, which has a mouth and digestive cavity. -- {Nu"tri*tive*ly}, adv. -- {Nu"tri*tive*ness}, n.