uric acid

American  

noun

1. Biochemistry. a compound, C 5 H 4 N 4 O 3 , present in mammalian urine in small amounts, and the principal nitrogenous component of the excrement of reptiles and birds, that in the form of its salts occurs in the joints in gout and as the major constituent of kidney stones.

2. Chemistry. a white, crystalline, odorless, tasteless, very slightly water-soluble powder form of this compound, obtained chiefly from urine or bird excrement or synthesized, used chiefly in organic synthesis.

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uric acid British  

noun

1. a white odourless tasteless crystalline product of protein metabolism, present in the blood and urine; 2,6,8-trihydroxypurine. Formula: C 5 H 4 N 4 O 3

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uric acid Scientific  

/ yr′ĭk /

1. The chief nitrogen-containing waste product excreted in the urine of birds, insects, and most reptiles. It is produced by the breakdown of amino acids in the liver. Uric acid is also produced in small quantities in humans by the breakdown of purines, and elevated levels in the blood can lead to gout. Chemical formula: C ₅ H ₄ N ₄ O ₃ .

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Other Word Forms

• uric-acid
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of uric acid

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

uric acid

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

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2025

In a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers examined the solid urine of more than 20 different reptile species and found that all contained tiny spheres made of uric acid.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2025

They believe uric acid might play a similar protective role in humans.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2025

The findings could also lead to new ways of treating human conditions linked to uric acid buildup, such as kidney stones and gout.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2025

It contains an increased amount of urea and of uric acid, the latter of which is not infrequently spontaneously precipitated.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various