View synonyms for polysaccharide

polysaccharide

[ pol-ee-sak-uh-rahyd, -rid ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Chemistry.

a carbohydrate, as starch, inulin, or cellulose, containing more than three monosaccharide units per molecule, the units being attached to each other in the manner of acetals, and therefore capable of hydrolysis by acids or enzymes to monosaccharides.

polysaccharide

/ -ˌrəʊs; -rɪd; ˌpɒlɪˈsækəˌrəʊz; ˌpɒlɪˈsækəˌraɪd /

any one of a class of carbohydrates whose molecules contain linked monosaccharide units: includes starch, inulin, and cellulose. General formula: (C 6 H 10 O 5 ) n See also oligosaccharide

polysaccharide

/ pŏl′ē-săk′ə-rīd′ /

Any of a class of carbohydrates that are made of long chains of simple carbohydrates (called monosaccharides). Starch and cellulose are polysaccharides.
Compare monosaccharide

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First recorded in 1890–95; poly- + saccharide

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

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Kelp blades are lined with cells containing sulfated polysaccharides, essentially chains of sugar molecules that give kelp its slimy texture.

It is a constituent of sucrose, of raffinose, and of the polysaccharide inulin, from which it may be obtained by hydrolysis.

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