acetoacetic acid

noun

ace·​to·​ace·​tic acid ˌa-sə-(ˌ)tō-ə-ˈsē-tik- How to pronounce acetoacetic acid (audio)
ə-ˌsē-tō-
: an unstable acid C4H6O3 that is a ketone body found in abnormal quantities in the blood and urine in some conditions (such as diabetes)

Word History

Etymology

partial translation of German Acetessigsäure, from acet- acet- + Essigsäure "acetic acid"

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acetoacetic acid was in 1877

Dictionary Entries Near acetoacetic acid

acetoacetanilide

acetoacetic acid

acetoacetic ester

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Acetoacetic acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acetoacetic%20acid. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

acetoacetic acid

noun
ace·​to·​ace·​tic acid ˌas-ə-(ˌ)tō-ə-ˌsēt-ik- How to pronounce acetoacetic acid (audio) ə-ˌsēt-ō- How to pronounce acetoacetic acid (audio)
: an unstable acid C4H6O3 that is one of the ketone bodies found in abnormal amounts in the blood and urine in certain conditions of impaired metabolism (as in starvation and diabetes mellitus)

called also diacetic acid

More from Merriam-Webster on acetoacetic acid

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acetoacetic acid

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