urea

[yoo-ree-uh, yoor-ee-uh]

noun

1. Biochemistry.,  a compound, CO(NH2 ) 2 , occurring in urine and other body fluids as a product of protein metabolism.

2. Chemistry.,  a water-soluble powder form of this compound, obtained by the reaction of liquid ammonia and liquid carbon dioxide: used as a fertilizer, animal feed, in the synthesis of plastics, resins, and barbiturates, and in medicine as a diuretic and in the diagnosis of kidney function.

urea

/ ˈjʊərɪə /

noun

1. Also called: carbamide. a white water-soluble crystalline compound with a saline taste and often an odour of ammonia, produced by protein metabolism and excreted in urine. A synthetic form is used as a fertilizer, animal feed, and in the manufacture of synthetic resins. Formula: CO(NH 2 ) 2

urea

1. The chief nitrogen-containing waste product excreted in the urine of mammals and some fish. It is the final nitrogenous product in the breakdown of proteins by the body, during which amino groups (NH ₂) are removed from amino acids and converted into ammonium ions (NH ₄), which are toxic at high concentrations. The liver then converts the ammonium ions into urea. Urea is also made artificially for use in fertilizers and medicine. Chemical formula: CON ₂ H ₄ .

Other Word Forms

• ureal adjective
• ureic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of urea¹

1800–10; < New Latin < French urée; ultimately < Greek oûron urine or oureîn to urinate; uro- ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of urea¹

C19: from New Latin, from French urée, from Greek ouron _urine

Example Sentences

To tackle this enduring question, researchers focused on an often overlooked element of early Earth chemistry: the role of trace compounds such as nickel and urea in cyanobacterial growth.

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In humans, the body eliminates excess nitrogen by flushing it out through urine as urea, uric acid, and ammonia.

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Once formaldehyde is produced, the researchers showed they could use that molecule to generate polymers by adding urea, a nitrogen-containing molecule found in urine.

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The metabolic powerhouse that is a liver cell is distinct to a kidney cell which filters urea out of the blood.

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The synthetic, membrane-less droplets contain a very high concentration of the bovine protein BSA to mimic the crowded conditions inside cells, as well as urease, an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of urea into ammonia.

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