The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pentose \Pen"tose\, n. [Penta- + -ose.] (Chem.) Any of a group of sugars of the formula C5H10O5, such as as arabinose or ribose; -- so called from the five carbon atoms in the molecule. They are not fermented by yeast. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ribose n 1: a pentose sugar important as a component of ribonucleic acid