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glucosamine

American  
[gloo-koh-suh-meen, -min] / gluˈkoʊ səˌmin, -mɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.
  1. an aminosugar occurring in many polysaccharides of vertebrate tissue and also as the major component of chitin.


glucosamine British  
/ ɡluːˈkəʊzˈəmiːn /

noun

  1. the amino derivative of glucose that occurs in chitin. It has been used in some herbal remedies

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

glucosamine Scientific  
/ glo̅o̅-kō′sə-mēn′,glo̅o̅′kō- /
  1. An amino derivative of glucose in which an amino group replaces a hydroxyl group. It is a component of many polysaccharides and is the basic structural unit of chitin. Glucosamine is used as an over-the-counter dietary supplement by some people with symptoms of arthritis. Chemical formula: C 6 H 13 NO 5 .


Etymology

Origin of glucosamine

First recorded in 1880–85; glucose + -amine

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Researchers found that glucosamine significantly increased the attachment of sugar molecules to proteins within cells.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 10, 2026

Mice receiving glucosamine also showed worsening deficits in social memory, which is the ability to recognize and remember other individuals.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 10, 2026

After reading the column, I tried glucosamine and chondroitin.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 14, 2022

Q: You recently had a letter from a woman whose doctor told her to use glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis pain relief.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 14, 2022

When hydrolysed these fungoid celluloses yield, in addition to monoses, glucosamine and acetic acid.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various

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