noun
- a carbohydrate composed of many monosaccharide units linked together by glycosidic bonds
Usage: chemistry and biochemistry term; commonly taught in high school and college biology
Examples
- Starch is a polysaccharide that plants use to store energy.
- Cellulose, a polysaccharide found in plant cell walls, provides structural support.
- Glycogen is a polysaccharide that animals use to store glucose in the liver and muscles.
- Polysaccharides are broken down into glucose during digestion.
- Common examples of polysaccharides include starch, cellulose, and chitin.
- The human body converts dietary polysaccharides into simple sugars for energy.