lac·tose

[lak-tohs]
noun
1.
Biochemistry. a disaccharide, C 12 H 22 O 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.


Origin:
1855–60; lact- + -ose2

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Collins
World English Dictionary
lactose (ˈlæktəʊs, -təʊz) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
Also called: milk sugar a white crystalline disaccharide occurring in milk and used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and baby foods. Formula: C12H22O11

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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00:10
Lactose is always a great word to know.
So is terbium. Does it mean:
Symbol: Tb; atomic number: 65; atomic weight: 158.924
Symbol: Ce; atomic weight: 140.12; atomic number: 58
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

lactose
sugar from milk, 1858, from Fr., coined by Fr. chemist Marcelin-Pierre-Eugène Berthelot (1827-1907) from L. lac "milk" (see lactation) + suffix -ose.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

lactose lac·tose (lāk'tōs')
n.

  1. A disaccharide in milk that hydrolyzes to yield glucose and galactose. Also called milk sugar.

  2. A white crystalline substance obtained from whey and used in infant foods and in pharmaceuticals as a diluent and excipient. Also called milk sugar.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
lactose   (lāk'tōs')  Pronunciation Key 
  1. A white crystalline disaccharide consisting of a glucose and a galactose molecule, found in milk and used in the manufacture of various other foods. Chemical formula: C12H22O11.

  2. The inability to digest lactose properly is called lactose intolerance. It is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase and marked by abdominal cramping and other symptoms after ingesting lactose.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
Lactose intolerance is probably one of the best cases to illustrate the gnarly
  normative obstructions which warp our perceptions.
Lactose is extracted by removing proteins and then dissolved to form glucose
  and galactose.
Lactose intolerance means that you have trouble digesting lactose, which is the
  sugar in dairy foods.
She makes no sense in trying to connect vaccines, gluten and lactose
  intolerances, and autism together.
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