arabinose

American  

[uh-rab-uh-nohs, ar-uh-buh-] / əˈræb əˌnoʊs, ˈær ə bə- /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble solid, C 5 H 10 O 5 , obtained from plant gums or made synthetically from glucose, used chiefly as a culture medium in bacteriology.

---

arabinose British  

/ əˈræbɪˌnəʊz, -ˌnəʊs /

noun

1. a pentose sugar in plant gums, esp of cedars and pines. It is used as a culture medium in bacteriology. Formula: C 5 H 10 O 5

---

Other Word Forms

• arabinosic adjective

Etymology

Origin of arabinose

1880–85; arabin the soluble essence of certain gums ( (gum) arab(ic) ) + -in ² ) + -ose ²

Example Sentences

Another enzyme produced by the bacteria, known as arabinose isomerase, then converts the galactose into tagatose.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026

Both approaches pointed to a gene for an enzyme that makes arabinose, a sugar found primarily in the plant cell wall, Willis reported.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 29, 2019

When finally hydrolyzed, they yield arabinose and xylose, respectively.

From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred

Arabic acid has the formula C23H38O22, and one molecule of this acid serves as the nucleus for the union of eight galactose and four arabinose groups, linked together in some unknown way.

From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred

On hydrolysis, it yields glucose, arabinose, and d-mandelo nitrile.

From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred