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Definition of lactose

lactose

/ˈlæk.toʊs/
lac · tose
Plural:lactoses
•
Adjective:lactose-free
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lactose Lexical Profile

lactose Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A disaccharide sugar composed of galactose and glucose subunits that is naturally present in mammalian milk and dairy products.

Example

"Many adults lack the digestive enzyme needed to properly break down lactose in dairy products."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for lactose

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'lactose' (the disaccharide sugar naturally present in milk) with 'lactase' (the digestive enzyme produced in the small intestine that breaks lactose down).

• Rhymes for lactose

• Nearby Words

lactate
lactation
lactic
lactose
lacy
lad
ladder

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in French in the mid-19th century by chemist Jean-Baptiste Dumas from the Latin 'lac, lact-' (meaning 'milk') combined with the chemical suffix '-ose' (indicating a sugar).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lactose. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lactose
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