lactose

[ lak-tohs ]

/ ˈlæk toʊs /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for lactose on Thesaurus.com

noun

Biochemistry. a disaccharide, C12H22O11, present in milk, that upon hydrolysis yields glucose and galactose.

a white, crystalline, sweet, water-soluble commercial form of this compound, obtained from whey and used in infant feedings, in confections and other foods, in bacteriological media, and in pharmacology as a diluent and excipient.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also called milk sugar, sugar of milk.

Origin of lactose

First recorded in 1855–60; lact- + -ose²

Words nearby lactose

lactone, lactonize, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, lactoprotein, lactoscope, lactose, lactosuria, lactovegetarian, La Cumbre, lacuna, lacunal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lactose in a sentence

Bloating, gas, and other purported signs of lactose intolerance are less common than people think.
Ancient milk-drinkers were just fine with their lactose intolerance–until famine struck|Philip Kiefer|July 28, 2022|Popular-Science
Those uncomfortable reactions were too mild to move the evolutionary needle toward lactose tolerance on their own, Evershed’s group says.
Famine and disease may have driven ancient Europeans’ lactose tolerance|Bruce Bower|July 27, 2022|Science News
Despite the fact that 68% of the world’s population has trouble digesting lactose, a naturally occurring milk sugar, global demand is surging.
The Next Hottest Alternative Milk Comes from Microbes|Aryn Baker|July 22, 2022|Time
The cow-free version also has less fat and sugar, with no cholesterol or lactose.
This ‘Cow-Free Milk’ Has Real Dairy Protein, but No Lactose or Cholesterol|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|March 2, 2022|Singularity Hub

Oatly has been around since 1994, when Swedish food scientist Rickard Öste developed the dairy substitute while researching lactose intolerance at Lund University.
Oatly’s offbeat marketing turned boring alt-milk into a $10-billion business|Sarah Todd|April 10, 2021|Quartz
Besides being an important part of milk itself, lactose is a valuable by-product in the manufacture of cheese.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Members of this group uniformly ferment the lactose with the production of the gases, carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
The Book of Cheese|Charles Thom and Walter Warner Fisk
It seems that the tendency is toward an increase of lactic acid in the cheese long after the lactose has disappeared.
The Book of Cheese|Charles Thom and Walter Warner Fisk
However, these acids were found in increasing amounts during the ripening process and after the lactose had disappeared.
The Book of Cheese|Charles Thom and Walter Warner Fisk
Weigh out: lactose 10 grammes and dissolve in the fluid agar.
The Elements of Bacteriological Technique|John William Henry Eyre

British Dictionary definitions for lactose

lactose

/ (ˈlæktəʊs, -təʊz) /

noun

a white crystalline disaccharide occurring in milk and used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and baby foods. Formula: C 12 H 22 O 11Also called: milk sugar

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for lactose

lactose

[ lăk′tōs′ ]

A white crystalline disaccharide consisting of a glucose and a galactose molecule, found in milk and used in the manufacture of various other foods. Chemical formula: C12H22O11.

The inability to digest lactose properly is called lactose intolerance. It is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase and marked by abdominal cramping and other symptoms after ingesting lactose.

lactose

Origin of lactose

Words nearby lactose

Words related to lactose

How to use lactose in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lactose

Scientific definitions for lactose