gluten

American  

[gloot-n] / ˈglut n /

noun

1. the tough, viscid, nitrogenous substance remaining when the flour of wheat or other grain is washed to remove the starch.

2. Archaic. glue or a gluey substance.

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gluten British  

/ ˈɡluːtən /

noun

1. a protein consisting of a mixture of glutelin and gliadin, present in cereal grains, esp wheat. A gluten-free diet is necessary in cases of coeliac disease

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gluten Scientific  

/ glo̅o̅t′n /

1. The mixture of proteins, including gliadins and glutelins, found in wheat grains, which are not soluble in water and which give wheat dough its elastic texture.

2. Any of the prolamins found in cereal grains, especially the prolamins in wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats, that cause digestive disorders such as celiac disease.

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Other Word Forms

• glutenous adjective

Etymology

Origin of gluten

First recorded in 1590–1600, gluten is from the Latin word glūten glue

Example Sentences

It actually worked—fasting allowed him to gradually introduce foods back into his diet, revealing a straightforward gluten intolerance, a condition that, indeed, can be linked to nasal issues.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

The NHS says coeliac disease is an auto-immune condition in which a person's immune system attacks their own tissues when they eat gluten.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

I went on a wellness kick: I stopped eating gluten and dairy and forced down celery juice every morning.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

Djokovic dropped gluten early in his career, crediting the change with transforming his results.

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

Like the girls at school, they were off gluten one week only to suddenly be on it again if the meal was enticing enough.

From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour

Related Words

• cereal
• grass