A sugar that is a constituent of nucleic acids

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
Deoxyribose , or more precisely 2-deoxyribose , is a monosaccharide with idealized formula H−(C=O)−(CH)−(CHOH)−H. Its name indicates that it is a deoxy sugar , meaning that it is derived from the sugar ribose by loss of an oxygen atom. Since the pentose ...

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
deoxyribose \deoxyribose\ n. a pentose ( C5H10O4 ) in which one of the hydroxyl groups of ribose has been replaced by a hydrogen. In deoxyribonucleic acids, the deoxyribose is D-2-deoxyribose , in which the hydroxyl at the 2 position of ribose is the one ...

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (context carbohydrate English) A derivative of the pentose sugar ribose in which the 2' hydroxyl (-OH) is reduced to a hydrogen (H); it is a constituent of the nucleotides that comprise the biopolymer, deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA.

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. a sugar that is a constituent of nucleic acids

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1931, from deoxy- (because the 2' hydroxyl (-OH) in the sugar is in this case reduced to a hydrogen (H) by loss of an oxygen) + ribose .