heterocyclic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the branch of chemistry dealing with cyclic compounds in which at least one of the ring members is not a carbon atom (contrasted with homocyclic).
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noting such compounds, as ethylene oxide, C 2 H 4 O.
adjective
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Of or relating to a compound containing a closed ring structure made of more than one kind of atom. Pyridine (C 5 H 5 N), for example, is a heterocyclic compound, as its ring contains five carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom.
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Compare homocyclic
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of heterocyclic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
First, Herzon and his team avoided constructing a reactive heterocyclic ring, known as an indole, until the end of the process.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 22, 2024
And cooking chicken and other meats at high temperatures can form heterocyclic amines, which are carcinogens.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 2, 2023
A heterocyclic compound contains atoms of two or more different elements in its ring structure.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
These other suspects include haem iron – a substance that is abundant in all red meat, processed or not – and heterocyclic amines: chemicals that form in meat during cooking.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 1, 2018
The more important nuclei of this type have received special and non-systematic names; when this is not the case, such terms as phen-, benzo-, naphtho- are prefixed to the name of the heterocyclic ring.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
