sorbitol: Meaning and Definition of

sor•bi•tol

Pronunciation: (sôr'bi-tôl", -tol"), [key]
— n. Biochem.
  1. a white, crystalline, sweet, water-soluble powder, CH(OH), occurring in cherries, plums, pears, seaweed, and many berries, obtained by the breakdown of dextrose and used as a sugar substitute for diabetics and in the manufacture of vitamin C, synthetic resins, candy, varnishes, etc.; sorbol.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.