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ketose

noun

ke·​tose ˈkē-ˌtōs How to pronounce ketose (audio) -ˌtōz How to pronounce ketose (audio)
: a sugar (such as fructose) containing in its acyclic form one ketone group per molecule

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from German Ketose, from Keton ketone + -ose -ose entry 2

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ketose was in 1891

Rhymes for ketose

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Browse Nearby Words

ketonuria
ketose
ketoside
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Cite this Entry

“Ketose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ketose. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Medical Definition

ketose

noun
ke·​tose ˈkē-ˌtōs How to pronounce ketose (audio) -ˌtōz How to pronounce ketose (audio)
: a sugar (as fructose) containing one ketone group per molecule

More from Merriam-Webster on ketose

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ketose

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