ribose

American  

[rahy-bohs] / ˈraɪ boʊs /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble, slightly sweet solid, C 5 H 1 0 O 5 , a pentose sugar obtained by the hydrolysis of RNA.

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ribose British  

/ ˈraɪbəʊz, -bəʊs /

noun

1. biochem a pentose sugar that is an isomeric form of arabinose and that occurs in RNA and riboflavin. Formula: CH 2 OH(CHOH) 3 CHO

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ribose Scientific  

/ rī′bōs′ /

1. A pentose sugar with a furanose structure that occurs as a component of riboflavin and RNA. Chemical formula: C ₅ H ₁₀ O ₅ .

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Etymology

Origin of ribose

1890–95; < German Ribose, earlier Ribonsäure, equivalent to Ribon (from Arabinose arabinose, by arbitrary rearrangement and shortening) + Säure acid

Compare meaning

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

• ribose vs. deoxyribose