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.

---

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

---

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 .

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• uric-acid
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of uric acid

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

The reintroduced uricase gene again reduced uric acid.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025

Research highlighted in the journal Hypertension has linked elevated uric acid to hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and the risks have been compared to those of high cholesterol.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025

If uric acid levels rise too much, it can crystallize in the joints and kidneys, causing gout, kidney disease and a number of related conditions.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025

The team also found that uric acid helps transform ammonia, a toxic compound, into a safer solid form.

From Science Daily • Oct. 25, 2025

The common object in view is the diminished output of uric acid.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 3 "Gordon, Lord George" to "Grasses" by Various