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

Holmes fashioned herself as the next Steve Jobs, until a reporter at the Wall Street Journal blew the lid off Theranos' fraudulent claims of developing a state-of-the-art medical test that required only a single drop of blood to accurately detect results like glucose levels and cancer. —James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026

That rapid glucose spike drives insulin up and can contribute to metabolic stress over time. —Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, CNBC, 4 June 2026

Advanced Lab Tests That Target Insulin Resistance Directly For patients who want a closer look at metabolic risk, several specialized tests go beyond standard glucose measurements. —Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026

Doctors typically combine fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1C, fasting insulin and a lipid profile, then add more specific tools like HOMA-IR or a Lipoprotein Insulin Resistance score when the picture warrants a closer look. —Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 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 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