glucose

American  

[gloo-kohs] / ˈglu koʊs /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a sugar, C 6 H 12 O 6 , having several optically different forms, the common dextrorotatory form dextroglucose, or d-glucose occurring in many fruits, animal tissues and fluids, etc., and having a sweetness about one half that of ordinary sugar, and the rare levorotatory form levoglucose, or l-glucose not naturally occurring.

2. Also called starch syrup.  a syrup containing dextrose, maltose, and dextrine, obtained by the incomplete hydrolysis of starch.

---

glucose British  

/ -kəʊs, ˈɡluːkəʊz, ɡluːˈkɒsɪk /

noun

1. a white crystalline monosaccharide sugar that has several optically active forms, the most abundant being dextrose: a major energy source in metabolism. Formula: C 6 H 12 O 6

2. a yellowish syrup (or, after desiccation, a solid) containing dextrose, maltose, and dextrin, obtained by incomplete hydrolysis of starch: used in confectionery, fermentation, etc

---

glucose Scientific  

/ glo̅o̅′kōs′ /

1. A monosaccharide sugar found in plant and animal tissues. Glucose is a product of photosynthesis, mostly incorporated into the disaccharide sugar sucrose rather than circulating free in the plant. Glucose is essential for energy production in animal cells. It is transported by blood and lymph to all the cells of the body, where it is metabolized to form carbon dioxide and water along with ATP, the main source of chemical energy for cellular processes. Glucose molecules can also be linked into chains to form the polysaccharides cellulose, glycogen, and starch. Chemical formula: C ₆ H ₁₂ O ₆ .

2. See more at cellular respiration Krebs cycle photosynthesis

---

glucose Cultural  

1. The most common form of sugar, found extensively in the bodies of living things; a molecule composed of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.

---

Discover More

Glucose is involved in the production of energy in both plants and animals.

Other Word Forms

• glucosic adjective
• nonglucose noun

Etymology

Origin of glucose

Coined in 1838 by French chemist Jean-Baptiste André Dumas; from French, from Greek gleûkos “sweet new wine” (akin to glykýs “sweet”; see glyco-)

Compare meaning

How does glucose compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• glycogen vs. glucose
• dextrose vs. glucose
• mannose vs. glucose

Explanation

Glucose is simple sugar. It's all kinds of sugar, and it's in your blood, and your body needs it for energy. Most Americans sadly consume far more glucose than necessary, and have enlarged gluteus maximus muscles to show for it. The word glucose is based on an ancient Greek word gleukos which meant "sweet delightful wine." When you're popping one glucose-laden Girl Scout Cookie after another into your mouth, you certainly do feel that delight. You'll probably see the word glucose plenty in biochemistry textbooks. Glucose needs to be in your blood, and a healthy balance of it in your body is indeed as delightful as wine to those ancient Greeks.

Example Sentences

He explained that diabetes burnout could occur when having to manage his blood glucose levels, insulin injections, diet and exercise became overwhelming.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

It has also been suggested that it could speed up digestion and help lower blood glucose levels, leading some to view it as a potential aid for weight loss.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

The company’s medical devices business, which includes products like its popular FreeStyle Libre glucose monitor, brought in the lion’s share of revenue for the quarter at $5.5 billion, up 8.5% on a comparable basis.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

Scientists suspect that metformin may influence gut bacteria in ways that affect how the body processes glucose.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

Grain by grain, molecule by molecule, carbohydrate fuel in the form of glucose is fed into this wheel; in its cyclic passage the fuel molecule undergoes fragmentation and a series of minute chemical changes.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Related Words

• cellulose
• lactose
• starch
• sugar