Meaning & Definition of word "Polysaccharide"
Polysaccharide
/ˌpɒliˈsækəraɪd/
noun:
- 1. A complex carbohydrate consisting of long chains of monosaccharide units linked together by glycosidic bonds.
- Example: Starch and cellulose are types of polysaccharides that play important roles in plants.
- 2. A carbohydrate that can be broken down into two or more monosaccharide molecules.
- Example: Glycogen is a polysaccharide that serves as a form of energy storage in animals.
- 3. Polysaccharides can be used as food sources for various organisms, aiding in energy metabolism.
- Example: Many fungi and bacteria are capable of digesting polysaccharides through enzymatic breakdown.
- 4. Some polysaccharides function as structural components in living organisms.
- Example: Chitin, a polysaccharide, is an essential component of the exoskeletons of arthropods.
Etymology
●From the Greek polys meaning 'many' and saccharon meaning 'sugar'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
starch:
A polysaccharide that serves as a major carbohydrate storage form in plants.
cellulose:
A polysaccharide that is a key component of plant cell walls.
glycogen:
A polysaccharide that serves as an energy reserve in animals.
Related Words
monosaccharide:
The simplest form of carbohydrate, consisting of a single sugar molecule.
oligosaccharide:
A carbohydrate made up of a small number of monosaccharides, typically 2-10.
Slang Meanings of polysaccharide
Meaning: Sugar chains
● Example Sentence: Polysaccharides are often referred to as 'sugar chains' in biochemistry.