polysaccharide
polysaccharide
Noun
pl: polysaccharides
This term describes large, complex carbohydrate molecules that serve as the structural scaffolding or energy reserves for living organisms. It carries a technical, scientific connotation, typically appearing in biochemistry, nutrition, and botany contexts to distinguish these long-chain polymers from simple sugars. As a technical noun, it follows standard English countability rules, though it is frequently used in a general sense to describe the class of molecules. It is distinct from monosaccharides and disaccharides in its scale and chemical complexity.
Meanings
Nounpolysaccharide
A complex carbohydrate consisting of long chains of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic linkages.
"Starch and cellulose are common examples of a polysaccharide."