galactan

[ guh-lak-tuhn, -tan ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of the class of hexosans, as agar, that yield galactose upon hydrolysis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of galactan¹

From German, dating back to 1885–90; galact-, -ane

Example Sentences

Schultze and Maxwell state that raw coffee contains galactan, mannan, and pentosans, the latter present to the extent of 5 percent in raw and 3 percent in roasted coffee.

From Project Gutenberg