Glucose
/ˈɡluːkoʊs/noun
A simple sugar that is the main source of energy for living cells.
Did you know?The word was coined in the 19th century from Greek roots used in chemistry to describe sugars, long before scientists understood how central glucose is to life’s metabolism.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
glykýs
“sweet”
Late Latin
Latin
glūcōsa / glūcōsum
“sweet substance (used in chemical naming traditions)”
19th Century
French
glucose
“a sugar discovered and named in modern chemistry”
19th Century
English
glucose
“the simple sugar found in grapes and many plants”
Modern English
English
glucose
“a monosaccharide sugar used by living organisms as a primary energy source”