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noun Uncommon

lactose

LAK-tohs

Lactose (noun) means the natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. Example: “People who are intolerant to lactose often struggle to digest dairy.”

noun
1
The natural sugar found in milk and dairy products.
"People who are intolerant to lactose often struggle to digest dairy."

How to use lactose

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe sugar naturally present in milk; some people can't digest it well, which causes lactose intolerance.

Common pairings
lactose intolerance lactose-free

Word forms

lactoses plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

People who are intolerant to _____ often struggle to digest dairy.

Etymology

Coined in French from Latin lac, "milk," plus the chemical suffix "-ose" used for sugars.

Origin: Latin

milk sugar

Rhymes for lactose

See all rhymes for lactose →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lactose” mean?

The word “lactose” means the natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. In plain terms, the sugar naturally present in milk; some people can't digest it well, which causes lactose intolerance.

How do you pronounce “lactose”?

“Lactose” is pronounced LAK-tohs (/ˈlæk.toʊs/ in IPA).

How do you use “lactose” in a sentence?

Here is “lactose” used in a sentence: “People who are intolerant to lactose often struggle to digest dairy.”

What part of speech is “lactose”?

“Lactose” is a noun.

Where does the word “lactose” come from?

The word “lactose” comes from Latin. Coined in French from Latin lac, "milk," plus the chemical suffix "-ose" used for sugars.

Is “lactose” a common word?

“Lactose” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial