simple sugar

/ˌsɪmpəl ˌʃʊgər/

Other forms: simple sugars

Definitions of simple sugar

1. noun

   a sugar (like glucose or fructose) that does not hydrolyse to give other sugars; the simplest group of carbohydrates
   synonyms: monosaccharide, monosaccharose

   types:

   triose

   any monosaccharide sugar containing three atoms of carbon per molecule

   tetrose

   any monosaccharide sugar containing four atoms of carbon per molecule

   pentose

   any monosaccharide sugar containing five atoms of carbon per molecule

   hexose

   a monosaccharide that contains six carbon atoms per molecule

   aldose

   a monosaccharide sugar that contains the aldehyde group or is hemiacetal

   ketose

   any monosaccharide sugar that contains a ketone group or its hemiacetal

   aldohexose

   a monosaccharide sugar having six carbon atoms and an aldehyde group

   ketohexose

   a monosaccharide having six carbon atoms and a ketone group

   type of:

   carbohydrate, saccharide, sugar

   an essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals; includes simple sugars with small molecules as well as macromolecular substances; are classified according to the number of monosaccharide groups they contain