monosaccharide

American  

[mon-uh-sak-uh-rahyd, -er-id] / ˌmɒn əˈsæk əˌraɪd, -ər ɪd /

Also monosaccharose

noun

Chemistry.

1. a carbohydrate that does not hydrolyze, as glucose, fructose, or ribose, occurring naturally or obtained by the hydrolysis of glycosides or polysaccharides.

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monosaccharide British  

/ -rɪd, ˌmɒnəʊˈsækəˌraɪd /

noun

1. a simple sugar, such as glucose or fructose, that does not hydrolyse to yield other sugars

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monosaccharide Scientific  

/ mŏn′ə-săk′ə-rīd′ /

1. Any of a class of carbohydrates that cannot be broken down to simpler sugars by hydrolysis and that constitute the building blocks of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides consist of at least three carbon atoms, one of which is attached to an oxygen atom to form an aldehyde group (CHO) or a ketone, and the others of which are each attached to a hydroxyl group (OH). Monosaccharides can occur as chains or rings. Fructose, glucose, and ribose are monosaccharides.

2. Also called simple sugar

3. Compare oligosaccharide polysaccharide See more at aldose ketose

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Etymology

Origin of monosaccharide

First recorded in 1895–1900; mono- + saccharide

Compare meaning

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

• monosaccharide vs. polysaccharide
• monosaccharide vs. disaccharide

Related Words

• cellulose
• glucose
• lactose
• starch
• sugar