Galactose
/ɡəˈlæk.toʊs/noun
A simple sugar that is a component of lactose and found in various foods.
Did you know?The term 'galactose' comes from the Greek word 'galaktos', the ancient term for milk, tying this sugar to the nurturing essence of life.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
galaktos
“milk”
19th Century
French
galactose
“a sugar discovered in milk and named for its dairy origin”
Modern English
English
galactose
“a monosaccharide derived from lactose, crucial in biochemistry and nutrition.”
19th Century
German
Galaktose
“a term used in scientific literature to describe this sugar's properties.”