polysaccharide

Also pol·y·sac·cha·rose

[pol-ee-sak-uh-rahyd, -rid]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a carbohydrate, as starch, inulin, or cellulose, containing more than three monosaccharide units per molecule, the units being attached to each other in the manner of acetals, and therefore capable of hydrolysis by acids or enzymes to monosaccharides.

polysaccharide

/ -ˌrəʊs, -rɪd, ˌpɒlɪˈsækəˌrəʊz, ˌpɒlɪˈsækəˌraɪd /

noun

1. any one of a class of carbohydrates whose molecules contain linked monosaccharide units: includes starch, inulin, and cellulose. General formula: (C 6 H 10 O 5 ) n See also oligosaccharide

polysaccharide

1. Any of a class of carbohydrates that are made of long chains of simple carbohydrates (called monosaccharides). Starch and cellulose are polysaccharides.

2. Compare monosaccharide oligosaccharide

Word History and Origins

Origin of polysaccharide¹

First recorded in 1890–95; poly- + saccharide

Example Sentences

These peppery greens contain abundant fiber and bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides and antioxidants.

Read more on Science Daily

The researchers also tested a hydrogel adhesive that includes chitosan, a naturally occurring polysaccharide, and found that this adhesive also eliminated fibrosis in animal studies.

Read more on Science Daily

Since chitin is a very high molecular weight polysaccharide, traditional processing techniques rely on caustic chemicals to break it down.

Read more on Science Daily

He sometimes recommends polysaccharide extract from turkey tail as a supplement for selected patients.

Read more on National Geographic

Fiber is used as an umbrella term for indigestible plant polysaccharides, so there are many different types with varying fermentability, solubility and viscosity in the gut.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• cellulose 
• glucose 
• lactose 
• starch 
• sugar