Dictionary
lac•tose
Pronunciation: (lak'tōs), [key]—
n.
1. Biochem.a disaccharide, C
12H
22O
11, present in milk, that upon hydrolysis yields glucose and galactose.
2. a white, crystalline, sweet, water-soluble commercial form of this compound, obtained from whey and used in infant feedings, in confections and other foods, in bacteriological media, and in pharmacology as a diluent and excipient. Also called
milk sugar, sugar of milk. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.