What does glucose mean?
Glucose is a simple sugar, or monosaccharide, that occurs naturally in the human body and many foods. It circulates in the bloodstream, where it is commonly called blood sugar, and provides a major source of energy for the body’s cells. The word is especially common in medicine, nutrition, and biological science, appearing in expressions such as blood glucose, glucose levels, glucose metabolism, and glucose testing. In everyday health discussions, glucose is often associated with diabetes, because the body’s ability to regulate blood glucose is central to the condition, although glucose is a normal and essential substance rather than something inherently harmful. Chemically, glucose is closely related to other sugars and compounds whose names contain the Greek-derived root meaning “sweet.” Its importance in energy metabolism makes it one of the most widely studied carbohydrates in modern science.
nounA simple monosaccharide, or simple sugar, that circulates in the blood and serves as a major source of energy for the body. In medical and nutritional contexts, the word also refers to blood glucose, the amount of this sugar present in blood.
- A simple monosaccharide, or simple sugar, that is a principal source of energy for most cells and occurs naturally in blood, fruit, and other biological materials.
- The amount of glucose in blood, especially as measured or discussed in medical and nutritional contexts.
"The doctor asked the patient to monitor his blood glucose levels throughout the day."
"The athlete checked her blood glucose before starting the race."
"The laboratory measured the glucose concentration in the solution."
Usually used in scientific contexts to refer to different forms or types of glucose; the plural is uncommon in ordinary usage.
"The researchers compared the structures of several glucoses."
Glucose means “sweet,” and this remarkable sugar is the fuel that keeps the body running.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does glucose come from?
The English word glucose entered modern scientific usage in the early nineteenth century through French. Its name combines the Greek root glykys, meaning “sweet,” with the chemical suffix -ose, used in the names of sugars and related compounds. The same sweet-related root appears in terms such as glycogen, glycoside, glycolysis, and glycol.
How glucose is actually used
The pronunciation is /ˈɡluːkoʊs/ in US English and /ˈɡluːkəʊs/ in British English. In medical contexts, “glucose” often functions as shorthand for blood glucose; outside those contexts, it more commonly denotes the sugar itself.
Easily confused with glucose
Glucose is a monosaccharide, whereas sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose.