glucosinolate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/SpecializedAcademic/Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “glucosinolate” mean?
A sulfur-containing compound found in plants, particularly cruciferous vegetables.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sulfur-containing compound found in plants, particularly cruciferous vegetables.
A biologically active secondary metabolite in plants that, when broken down (by the enzyme myrosinase), produces isothiocyanates and other compounds with various effects, including potential anti-cancer properties and a distinctive pungent taste and smell.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Neutral scientific term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both varieties, confined to technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “glucosinolate” in a Sentence
[Vegetable/Plant] contains glucosinolates.Glucosinolates are hydrolysed/broken down by [enzyme].The glucosinolate content of [food] is high.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “glucosinolate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The enzyme myrosinase hydrolyses glucosinolates.
- Cooking can degrade glucosinolates.
American English
- Chopping the vegetable will break down glucosinolates.
- Heat processing destroys glucosinolates.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The glucosinolate-rich diet showed promising results.
- We studied the glucosinolate profile of different cultivars.
American English
- Broccoli is a glucosinolate-dense vegetable.
- Researchers analyzed the glucosinolate concentration.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used only in the context of nutritional supplements, health food marketing, or agricultural product analysis.
Academic
Core term in biochemistry, nutrition, and plant science research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation; a 'nutrition expert' might mention it in a health article or talk.
Technical
Standard term in analytical chemistry (HPLC analysis), food technology, and phytochemical research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “glucosinolate”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “glucosinolate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “glucosinolate”
- Misspelling: 'glucosinate', 'glucosinolate'.
- Mispronouncing with stress on 'co' (/ˈɡluːkəʊ.../) instead of 'si' (/...ˈsɪn.../).
- Using it as a countable noun for a single molecule ('a glucosinolate') is correct, but learners may treat it as uncountable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, rocket (arugula), and horseradish.
Research suggests their breakdown products may have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, but their effects are complex and depend on individual metabolism and diet context.
Yes, cooking, especially boiling, can leach glucosinolates into water and deactivate the enzyme needed to convert them into their most bioactive forms. Steaming or microwaving may preserve more.
No, it is a highly specialized scientific term. The average native English speaker would not know or use this word.
A sulfur-containing compound found in plants, particularly cruciferous vegetables.
Glucosinolate is usually academic/technical/scientific in register.
Glucosinolate: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡluːkəʊˈsɪnəleɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡluːkoʊˈsɪnəleɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: GLUCose + SIN (like 'sin' for sulfur's smell) + OLATE (a chemical suffix). It's the 'glucose-derived, smelly sulfur compound' in your greens.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLANT'S CHEMICAL ARMOUR / HIDDEN INGREDIENT
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for using the word 'glucosinolate'?