Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of sugar: Sucrose is a specific, naturally occurring carbohydrate compound. It is a disaccharide, meaning it is composed of two simpler sugar molecules (glucose and fructose) linked together.
   • A sweetening agent: It is the common, crystalline table sugar extracted primarily from sugar cane and sugar beets, widely used to sweeten foods and beverages.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Table sugar is pure sucrose. (The common white sugar we use is chemically identified as sucrose.)
  • The plant stores energy in the form of sucrose. (Sucrose functions as a form of stored chemical energy within the plant.)
  • This product contains no added sucrose. (This food item does not have extra table sugar included as an ingredient.)

Advanced Usage

• Scientific/Technical Context: In chemistry and biology, "sucrose" precisely refers to the molecule C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁. Its hydrolysis (breakdown) yields glucose and fructose.
  • The enzyme invertase catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose. (A specific biological catalyst speeds up the reaction that splits sucrose into its components.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sucrose itself is the base term. Related terms are based on its properties or components:
  • Disaccharide (n): The category of sugars to which sucrose belongs, consisting of two monosaccharide units.
  • Invert Sugar (n): A mixture of glucose and fructose formed by the breakdown of sucrose, often used in food manufacturing.

Synonyms

• Table sugar: The everyday name for refined sucrose.
• Cane sugar: Sucrose derived specifically from sugar cane.
• Beet sugar: Sucrose derived specifically from sugar beets.

Notes on Different Meanings

• "Sucrose" has a single, specific scientific and common meaning as the chemical compound and food ingredient described. It is not used idiomatically or in phrasal verbs. It is distinct from other sugars like fructose (fruit sugar), lactose (milk sugar), or glucose (a simple sugar).

Noun

1. a complex carbohydrate found in many plants and used as a sweetening agent