oligosaccharide

[ ol-i-goh-sak-uh-rahyd, -rid ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. any carbohydrate yielding few monosaccharides on hydrolysis, as two, three, or four.

oligosaccharide

/ ˌɒlɪɡəʊˈsækəˌraɪd; -rɪd /

noun

1. any one of a class of carbohydrates consisting of a few monosaccharide units linked together Compare polysaccharide

oligosaccharide

/ ŏl′ĭ-gō-săk′ə-rīd′,ō′lĭ- /

1. A carbohydrate consisting of a relatively small and specifiable number of monosaccharides joined together. Lactose, maltose, and sucrose are oligosaccharides consisting of two simple sugars. Raffinose is an oligosaccharide consisting of three simple sugars.
2. Compare monosaccharide

Word History and Origins

Origin of oligosaccharide¹

First recorded in 1925–30; oligo- + saccharide

Example Sentences

There is an approximately 25% overlap between bovine milk oligosaccharide and HMO structures.

From Nature

The label may list inulin, chicory root extract, oligosaccharide, or oligofructose.

From Reuters

Gnotobiotic recipients colonized with these communities can be fed breast milk or infant formula supplemented with defined milk oligosaccharide structures.

From Nature