gluten

noun

glu·​ten ˈglü-tᵊn 

: a tenacious elastic protein substance especially of wheat flour that gives cohesiveness to dough

glutenous

ˈglü-tə-nəs 

ˈglüt-nəs

adjective

Examples of gluten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chef Subedi worked around a need for gluten-free food by supplying delicious buckwheat crepes for breakfast instead of bread. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026

Many options are available, including dairy-free, lactose-free, gluten-free, keto-friendly, paleo-friendly, organic, non-GMO, or fortified with vitamins and minerals. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 26 Feb. 2026

Mixing too vigorously, overkneading, or doing too many rounds of stretches and folds can overdevelop the gluten, Scheck says. —Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 22 Feb. 2026

Hannah Kopplin, 29, founded Tots on the Street in 2019 as a Milwaukee food truck serving gluten-free gourmet tater tots. —Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin glutin-, gluten glue — more at clay

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gluten

• pluton
• rutin

Kids Definition

gluten

noun

glu·​ten ˈglüt-ᵊn 

: a tough elastic protein substance in flour especially from wheat that holds together dough and makes it sticky

Medical Definition

gluten

noun

glu·​ten ˈglüt-ᵊn 

: a gluey protein substance especially of wheat flour that causes dough to be sticky

glutenous

ˈglüt-nəs, -ᵊn-əs 

adjective