galactose

American  

[guh-lak-tohs] / gəˈlæk toʊs /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble hexose sugar, C 6 H 12 O 6 , obtained in its dextrorotatory form from milk sugar by hydrolysis and in its levorotatory form from mucilages.

---

galactose British  

/ -əʊs, ɡəˈlæktəʊz /

noun

1. a white water-soluble monosaccharide found in lactose. Formula: C 6 H 12 O 6

---

galactose Scientific  

/ gə-lăk′tōs′ /

1. A monosaccharide commonly occurring in lactose and in certain pectins, gums, and mucilages. Chemical formula: C ₆ H ₁₂ O ₆ .

---

Etymology

Origin of galactose

First recorded in 1865–70; galact- + -ose ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

galactose

This enzyme enables the bacteria to generate galactose directly from glucose.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 13, 2026

Two major carbohydrate components were studied: fucose and galactose.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 9, 2026

Lactose, or milk sugar, is a disaccharide made of two simple sugars – glucose and galactose – in a 1:1 ratio.

From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2024

Following her illness, Mills was diagnosed with galactosaemia, a rare genetic disorder affecting up to one in 45,000 babies which prevents her body from turning galactose into glucose.

From BBC ● Jan. 9, 2024

H2SO4 at 130-135°, soluble carbohydrates were obtained, amongst which mannose was identified, and galactose shown to be present in some quantity.

From Researches on Cellulose 1895-1900 by Cross, C. F.

Related Words

• cellulose
• glucose
• lactose
• starch
• sugar