glucose

noun

glu·​cose ˈglü-ˌkōs 

-ˌkōz

1

: a crystalline sugar C₆H₁₂O₆

specifically : the sweet colorless soluble dextrorotatory form that occurs widely in nature and is the usual form in which carbohydrate is assimilated by animals

2

: a light-colored syrup made from cornstarch

Examples of glucose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Reducing carbohydrate intake often leads to more stable blood sugar levels and smaller post-meal glucose increases. — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 17 Sep. 2026

These will cause glucose to flood the bloodstream quite rapidly, and then your pancreas responds by pumping out all this insulin. — Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2026

She was sent home with a blood glucose monitor and instructions to follow up pre-natal care, the lawsuit alleges. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Zverev, who has Type 1 diabetes and checks his glucose levels throughout his matches, gave himself an insulin injection on two occasions—in the midst of holding down 12 consecutive points on his serve. — Corey Seymour, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, modification of Greek gleukos must, sweet wine; akin to Greek glykys sweet — more at dulcet

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing glucose

• glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide
• glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide
• glucose phosphate
• glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

Rhymes for glucose

• arkose
• engross
• faroese
• fructose
• fucose
• gatos
• jocose
• morose
• plateaus
• spinose
• vadose
• adios

Kids Definition

glucose

noun

glu·​cose ˈglü-ˌkōs 

: a sugar that occurs especially in a naturally occurring form that is found in plants, fruits, and blood and is a source of energy for living things

Medical Definition

glucose

noun

glu·​cose ˈglü-ˌkōs, -ˌkōz 

: an optically active sugar C₆H₁₂O₆ that has an aldehydic carbonyl group

especially : the sweet colorless soluble dextrorotatory form that occurs widely in nature and is the usual form in which carbohydrate is assimilated by animals