gluten

American  

[gloot-n] / ˈglut n /

noun

1. the tough, viscid, nitrogenous substance remaining when the flour of wheat or other grain is washed to remove the starch.

2. Archaic. glue or a gluey substance.

---

gluten British  

/ ˈɡluːtən /

noun

1. a protein consisting of a mixture of glutelin and gliadin, present in cereal grains, esp wheat. A gluten-free diet is necessary in cases of coeliac disease

---

gluten Scientific  

/ glo̅o̅t′n /

1. The mixture of proteins, including gliadins and glutelins, found in wheat grains, which are not soluble in water and which give wheat dough its elastic texture.

2. Any of the prolamins found in cereal grains, especially the prolamins in wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats, that cause digestive disorders such as celiac disease.

---

Other Word Forms

• glutenous adjective

Etymology

Origin of gluten

First recorded in 1590–1600, gluten is from the Latin word glūten glue

Example Sentences

Djokovic dropped gluten early in his career, crediting the change with transforming his results.

From Barron's

If something does contain common allergens like eggs, dairy or gluten, I’ll note it on the card.

From Salon

Another investigation by the organisation looked into a separate firm in the city which had served an undercover officer gluten-free food that was later found to contain high levels of gluten.

From BBC

Another wave of change hit shelves beginning around 2010 as more consumers started to hunt for organic foods and those free from allergens, gluten and genetically modified organisms, according to Mintel’s Dornblaser.

From The Wall Street Journal

But that all changed in 2024 when she received a "game-changing diagnosis" of coeliac disease, an autoimmune condition whereby consuming gluten causes the body's immune system to attack internal organs, including the small intestine.

From BBC

Related Words

• cereal
• grass