Phrase guide

Maillard reaction

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /maɪˈjɑː(ɹ)ɹiˈækʃən/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The condensation reaction of an amino acid and a reducing sugar, followed by polymerization to form brown pigments - melanoidins; one of the causes of browning during cooking.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, organic-chemistry, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Named after French physician and chemist Louis Camille Maillard, 1912.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 美拉德反應 /美拉德反应 (Měilādé fǎnyìng) — condensation reaction of an amino acid
  • Finnish: Maillardin reaktio — condensation reaction of an amino acid
  • French: réaction de Maillard — condensation reaction of an amino acid
  • German: Maillard-Reaktion — condensation reaction of an amino acid
  • Italian: reazione di Maillard — condensation reaction of an amino acid
  • Portuguese: reação de Maillard — condensation reaction of an amino acid