sucrose: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Scientific, Formal
Quick answer
What does “sucrose” mean?
A crystalline disaccharide sugar composed of glucose and fructose, commonly known as table sugar.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A crystalline disaccharide sugar composed of glucose and fructose, commonly known as table sugar.
A naturally occurring carbohydrate found in many plants, especially sugar cane and sugar beet, widely used as a sweetener and preservative in food and beverages.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Neutral scientific term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low in everyday speech in both regions; used primarily in scientific, nutritional, and industrial contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sucrose” in a Sentence
The [noun] contains [amount] of sucrose.Sucrose is broken down into [glucose/fructose].[Subject] is high/low in sucrose.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sucrose” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The enzyme sucrases sucrose into simpler sugars.
- Yeast will sucrose the solution during fermentation.
American English
- The enzyme sucrases sucrose into simpler sugars.
- The process sucroses the mixture to create invert sugar.
adjective
British English
- The sucrose content was measured.
- A sucrose-based syrup was used.
American English
- The sucrose content was measured.
- A sucrose-based syrup was used.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in food industry labelling and ingredient lists.
Academic
Common in chemistry, biology, nutrition, and food science papers.
Everyday
Rare; 'sugar' is preferred. Might appear on nutrition labels.
Technical
Standard term in scientific literature, food technology, and medical contexts (e.g., sucrose intolerance).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sucrose”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sucrose”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sucrose”
- Using 'sucrose' in casual conversation instead of 'sugar'.
- Misspelling as 'sucrose' (correct) vs. 'sucrose' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Sucrose is the specific chemical name for common table sugar, which is a disaccharide. 'Sugar' can be a more general term for various sweet-tasting carbohydrates.
Sucrose occurs naturally in many plants, with high concentrations in sugar cane and sugar beet, which are the primary commercial sources.
Excessive consumption of sucrose, like other added sugars, is linked to health issues such as dental caries, obesity, and metabolic disorders. It should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule bonded together. Glucose and fructose are simpler monosaccharides. The body breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose during digestion.
A crystalline disaccharide sugar composed of glucose and fructose, commonly known as table sugar.
Sucrose is usually technical/scientific, formal in register.
Sucrose: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsuː.krəʊz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsuː.kroʊz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SUCROSE = SUGAR CRYSTALS. Remember 'suc' as in 'sugar' and 'rose' as in the crystalline structure that might resemble a rose-like pattern under a microscope.
Conceptual Metaphor
Sweetness as energy source; purity as crystalline structure.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'sucrose' most appropriately used?