/mawl"tohs/ , n. Chem.
a white, crystalline, water-soluble sugar, C 12 H 22 O 11 ·H 2 O, formed by the action of diastase, esp. from malt, on starch: used chiefly as a nutrient, as a sweetener, and in culture media. Also called malt sugar, maltobiose /mawl'toh buy"ohs/ .
[ 1860-65; MALT + -OSE 2 ]