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

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

Uricase breaks down uric acid, a waste product that routinely forms in the blood.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 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

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

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2025

There are various remedies that are claimed to reduce the uric acid content of the blood or the system, and then there are various changes of diet that are supposed to do the same thing.

From Psychotherapy by James J. (James Joseph) Walsh