a colorless, crystalline pentose sugar, C5H10O5, derived from xylan, straw, corncobs, etc., by treating with heated dilute sulfuric acid, and dehydrating to furfural if stronger acid is used.
Main Entry: xy·lose Pronunciation: 'zI-"lOs, -"lOz Function: noun : a crystalline aldose sugar C5H10O5 that is notfermentable with ordinary yeasts and occurs especially as a constituent of xylans from which it is obtained by hydrolysis