glucose English · revision 39898

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1838|origins=grc γλεῦκος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈɡluː.kəʊz/, /ˈɡluː.kəʊs/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈɡlu.koʊs/, /ˈɡlu.koʊz/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|glucose]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(AHD 2024) formed irregularly^(Hoad 1986) on [[grc|γλεῦκος|tr=gleûkos|t=must, sweet wine]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) which is related to [[m|grc|γλυκύς|tr=glukús|t=sweet]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(ODE 2010)^(Hoad 1986) with the chemical suffix [[-ose]].^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(Dictionary.com 2016) The OED and Barnhart credit the French word to the chemist Jean-Baptiste Dumas (1838),^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988) while Etymonline says it was coined by Eugène Péligot.^(Etymonline) Through the Greek adjective it is related to [[glycerine]] and [[liquorice]],^(Partridge 1966)^(Weekley 1921) and, according to Partridge, to Latin [[m|la|dulcis|t=sweet]].^(Partridge 1966)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The commonest natural sugar: 1838 in the OED,^(OED 2026) 1840 in Barnhart, Etymonline and Merriam-Webster.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline notes that it was first obtained from grape sugar.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Between 1859 and 1911 the word was also used for any of the hexose sugars, a sense now obsolete.^(OED 2026) From 1852 it has named a commercial syrup made from starch, also called ''glucose syrup'', used as a sweetener and thickener in food.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) In chemistry it names a sugar with dextrorotatory and laevorotatory forms, the dextrorotatory one also being called [[dextrose]] or grape sugar.^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1838 – the sugar, in an English report of Dumas's work.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1840 – Barnhart's and Merriam-Webster's first date.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1852 – a syrup made from starch.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1859–1911 – any hexose sugar (obsolete).^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A simple [[sugar]], found in plants and in the blood, that is a chief source of [[energy]] for living things; [[dextrose]]: ''Her blood glucose was checked before breakfast.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # A thick syrup containing glucose, [[maltose]] and [[dextrin]], made from [[starch]] and used in [[confectionery]] and other foods.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[glucosic]]

+ * [[glucosamine]]

+ * [[glucoside]]

+ * [[glucosuria]]

+ * [[glutose]]

+ * [[nonglucose]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[licorice]]

+ * [[glycerine]]

+ * [[liquorice]]

+ * [[dextrose]]

+ * [[sucrose]]

+ * [[fructose]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}