any of various compounds consisting of a purine or pyrimidine base linked to a carbohydrate: a major component of a nucleotide
Origin:
< nucleo- + -ose + -ide
See nucleoside in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Any of various compounds consisting of a sugar, usually ribose or deoxyribose, and a purine or pyrimidine base, especially a compound obtained by hydrolysis of a nucleic acid, such as adenosine or guanine.