disaccharidase

[ dahy-sak-er-i-deys, -deyz ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of disaccharides, as sucrose or lactose, to produce monosaccharides, as fructose or glucose.

Word History and Origins

Origin of disaccharidase¹

First recorded in 1960–65; disaccharide + -ase