ketone

American  

[kee-tohn] / ˈki toʊn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. any of a class of organic compounds containing a carbonyl group, CO, attached to two alkyl groups, as CH 3 COCH 3 or CH 3 COC 2 H 5 .

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adjective

1. containing the ketone group.

ketone British  

/ ˈkiːtəʊn, kɪˈtɒnɪk /

noun

1. any of a class of compounds with the general formula R′COR, where R and R′ are alkyl or aryl groups See also acetone

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ketone Scientific  

/ kē′tōn′ /

1. Any of a class of organic compounds having the general formula RCOR|||PRIMARY_STRESS|||, where R and R|||PRIMARY_STRESS||| are hydrocarbon radicals that are both attached to the carbon atom of the carbonyl (CO) group. Acetone is a ketone.

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Other Word Forms

• ketonic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of ketone

1850–55; < German Keton, aphetic alteration of Aceton acetone

Explanation

Ketones are chemicals produced by the body when it burns fat for energy rather than sugar. When doctors find ketones in a patient's blood, it's sometimes a symptom of diabetes. If your body doesn't have enough glucose (or sugar), your liver will produce ketones by breaking down fat. When the ketones are released into your bloodstream, your body can use them as an alternate fuel. This naturally happens at night while you sleep, as well as when you're not eating a balanced diet or regular meals. People with type 1 diabetes produce ketones due to a lack of insulin.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ketone

Previous studies have shown that boosting ketone bodies through diet, exercise and supplementation can be good for brain health and cognition, both in rodents and humans.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 2, 2024

Research at the Buck Institute shows that ketone bodies can best be understood as powerful signaling metabolites affecting brain function in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 2, 2024

Magistrates were told how she had Type 1 diabetes, and often vomited when her ketone levels were imbalanced, sometimes causing her to need hospital.

From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2024

While specific products aren’t banned, the law states judges enforcing the measure could consider the inclusion of ingredients including creatine, green tea extract and raspberry ketone.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 25, 2024

The ketone group corresponds to a thermal effect of 53.52 calories.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various