glucose

American  

[gloo-kohs] / ˈglu koʊs /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a sugar, C 6 H 12 O 6 , having several optically different forms, the common dextrorotatory form dextroglucose, or d-glucose occurring in many fruits, animal tissues and fluids, etc., and having a sweetness about one half that of ordinary sugar, and the rare levorotatory form levoglucose, or l-glucose not naturally occurring.

2. Also called starch syrup.  a syrup containing dextrose, maltose, and dextrine, obtained by the incomplete hydrolysis of starch.

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glucose British  

/ -kəʊs, ˈɡluːkəʊz, ɡluːˈkɒsɪk /

noun

1. a white crystalline monosaccharide sugar that has several optically active forms, the most abundant being dextrose: a major energy source in metabolism. Formula: C 6 H 12 O 6

2. a yellowish syrup (or, after desiccation, a solid) containing dextrose, maltose, and dextrin, obtained by incomplete hydrolysis of starch: used in confectionery, fermentation, etc

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glucose Scientific  

/ glo̅o̅′kōs′ /

1. A monosaccharide sugar found in plant and animal tissues. Glucose is a product of photosynthesis, mostly incorporated into the disaccharide sugar sucrose rather than circulating free in the plant. Glucose is essential for energy production in animal cells. It is transported by blood and lymph to all the cells of the body, where it is metabolized to form carbon dioxide and water along with ATP, the main source of chemical energy for cellular processes. Glucose molecules can also be linked into chains to form the polysaccharides cellulose, glycogen, and starch. Chemical formula: C ₆ H ₁₂ O ₆ .

2. See more at cellular respiration Krebs cycle photosynthesis

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glucose Cultural  

1. The most common form of sugar, found extensively in the bodies of living things; a molecule composed of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.

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Discover More

Glucose is involved in the production of energy in both plants and animals.

Other Word Forms

• glucosic adjective
• nonglucose noun

Etymology

Origin of glucose

Coined in 1838 by French chemist Jean-Baptiste André Dumas; from French, from Greek gleûkos “sweet new wine” (akin to glykýs “sweet”; glyco- )

Compare meaning

How does glucose compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• glycogen vs. glucose
• dextrose vs. glucose
• mannose vs. glucose

Example Sentences

Their findings showed that fructose intake, unlike glucose, led to higher concentrations of Toll-like receptor 2 in monocytes.

From Science Daily

The samples were analyzed for circulating choline, inflammatory cytokines, insulin, glucose, liver enzymes, additional metabolic measures and NfL.

From Science Daily

Once each hatchling finished the crawl, researchers checked blood glucose levels to estimate energy use.

From Science Daily

This is important because insulin-assisted dilation helps move glucose from the bloodstream into body tissues, lowering blood sugar after meals.

From Science Daily

Gracie now has a glucose monitor and an insulin pump and is "bossing diabetes", says her dad.

From BBC

Related Words

• cellulose
• lactose
• starch
• sugar