saccharide

1. (biochemistry) 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.Examples: "Holonyms: monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, polysaccharide"; "The saccharides include such substances as dextrose and levulose, which are typical examples of the two classes into which these bodies are divisible, viz. the Aldoses and Ketoses."