noun
lactose
LAK-tohs
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 notesIn 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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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.