A sugar that is a constituent of nucleic acids

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deoxyribose \deoxyribose\ n. a pentose ( C5H10O4 ) in which one of the hydroxyl groups of ribose has been replaced by a hydrogen.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.

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 .

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 ...

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