Definition

A sweet, colorless solid that is part of the process where carbohydrates are broken down in the body.

Example

Glyceraldehyde is an important intermediate in the metabolism of sugars.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of glyceraldehyde?

Yeah, I think it’s something to do with sugar metabolism, right?

Exactly! It's a sweet compound formed when sugars break down.

That’s pretty interesting — I didn’t know it was an intermediate in that process.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Glyceraldehyde is formed from "glycerin" (from Greek "glykys", meaning sweet) and "aldehyde" (from Arabic "al-dahā" meaning the aldehyde group). The word refers to a sweet compound that contains an aldehyde functional group.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sweet' ('glycerin') and the 'aldehyde' group to remember that glyceraldehyde is a sweet compound containing an aldehyde.

Visually Confused Words