deoxyribose

noun

de·​oxy·​ri·​bose (ˌ)dē-ˌäk-si-ˈrī-ˌbōs 

-ˌbōz

: a pentose sugar C₅H₁₀O₄ that is a structural element of DNA

Examples of deoxyribose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Moreover, the sugar in DNA, deoxyribose, [is] made from ribose by a large, complicated protein. —Gregory J Rummo, Sun Sentinel, 10 Aug. 2025

Moreover, the sugar in DNA, deoxyribose, (is) made from ribose by a large, complicated protein. —Gregory J. Rummo, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025

And their discovery of much more ribose than of any deoxyribose (the D in DNA) points to the theory that RNA is in fact the ancestor of DNA. —Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 19 Nov. 2019

To create XNAs, Holliger and his team replaced the deoxyribose with alternative synthetic chemical ring structures such as arabinose or cyclohexene. —Kat McGowan, Discover Magazine, 16 Jan. 2013

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

deoxyribose

noun

de·​oxy·​ri·​bose dē-ˌäk-sē-ˈrī-ˌbōs 

: a sugar that has five carbon atoms and four oxygen atoms in each molecule and is part of DNA compare ribose

Medical Definition

deoxyribose

noun

de·​oxy·​ri·​bose (ˌ)dē-ˌäk-si-ˈrī-ˌbōs, -ˌbōz 

variants also desoxyribose

ˌdes- 

: a pentose sugar C₅H₁₀O₄ that is a structural element of DNA