saccharide

Plural: saccharides

Noun

• an essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals; includes simple sugars with small molecules as well as macromolecular substances; are classified according to the number of monosaccharide groups they contain
• The unit structure of carbohydrates, of general formula CₙH₂ₙOₙ. Either the simple sugars or polymers such as starch and cellulose. The saccharides exist in either a ring or short chain conformation, and typically contain five or six carbon atoms.

Synonyms

carbohydrate, sugar