disaccharide

Friendly

Word: Disaccharide

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A disaccharide is a type of carbohydrate that is made up of two simple sugars called monosaccharides. When a disaccharide is broken down completely (a process called hydrolysis), it produces two monosaccharide molecules.

Usage Instructions

Disaccharides are commonly found in many foods and are important for providing energy. When you talk about different types of sugars in food, you may come across disaccharides.

Examples:

1. Common Disaccharides:

   • Sucrose: This is table sugar, which is made of glucose and fructose.
   • Lactose: This is the sugar found in milk, made of glucose and galactose.
   • Maltose: This sugar is made of two glucose molecules and is found in malted foods and beverages.

2. Example in a Sentence:

   • "When I drink milk, I consume lactose, which is a disaccharide."

Advanced Usage:

In biochemistry, disaccharides can be further studied in terms of their structure and function in living organisms. They can be involved in energy metabolism and can affect how our bodies digest carbohydrates.

Word Variants:

• Monosaccharide: A single sugar molecule (e.g., glucose, fructose).
• Polysaccharide: A carbohydrate made up of many monosaccharide units (e.g., starch, cellulose).

Different Meanings:

• While "disaccharide" specifically refers to a type of carbohydrate, it does not have other meanings in different contexts.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "disaccharide," but you might refer to it as a "sugar" in a more general sense, though this is less specific.

Related Phrases:

• Simple sugars: Another term that generally refers to monosaccharides and disaccharides.
• Complex carbohydrates: These include polysaccharides and are made up of many sugar molecules.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to "disaccharide," but you might hear phrases like "break down sugars," which refers to the digestion of carbohydrates.

Summary:

A disaccharide is a carbohydrate that consists of two simple sugars linked together. It plays an important role in nutrition and energy supply in our diet.

Academic

Noun

1. any of a variety of carbohydrates that yield two monosaccharide molecules on complete hydrolysis