ketone

noun

ke·​tone ˈkē-ˌtōn How to pronounce ketone (audio)
: any of a class of organic compounds (such as acetone) characterized by a carbonyl group attached to two carbon atoms
ketonic adjective

Examples of ketone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The breakdown of fat results in compounds called ketones, hence the name ketosis. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 Detecting these early signs is important, though, because when cells can’t get enough glucose, the body breaks fat down into an alternate energy source called ketones. Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 1 Nov. 2023 Those ketones become an energy source for the brain in place of glucose, its typical fuel.6 Physiological or molecular fasting is maintained if glucose and insulin levels remain low while ketone levels remain high. Cynthia Sass, Mph, Rd, Health, 5 Sep. 2023 When too many ketones build up in a person with diabetes’ blood, their body is at risk of entering a life-threatening state called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), according to the US National Library of Medicine. Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 1 Nov. 2023 There, the fat converts to ketones and releases back into the bloodstream. Cynthia Sass, Mph, Rd, Health, 5 Sep. 2023 Your body then tries to burn it off, which causes your liver to produce ketones. Danielle Weiss, Verywell Health, 29 Aug. 2023 Other factors that affect how quickly your body makes ketones include body fat percentage and body mass index (BMI).1 Your Body Is Not in Ketosis Cutting back on carbs sounds simple: Just stop eating bread and pasta, right? Amanda MacMillan, Health, 5 June 2023 A couple of other noteworthy ingredients are raspberry ketone which increases skin's firmness, and meadowsweet which acts as an anti-inflammatory, keeping puffiness at bay. Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ketone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Keton, coinage based on Aceton acetone

Note: The German term Keton was apparently the coinage of the chemist Leopold Gmelin (1788-1853), who introduced it in Handbuch der organischen Chemie, 1. Band, 4. Auflage (Heidelberg, 1848), p. 40 passim. Gmelin characterized ketones as "Acetone im allgemeinen" ("acetones in general"), acetone being the smallest and simplest ketone.

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ketone was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near ketone

Cite this Entry

“Ketone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ketone. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

ketone

noun
ke·​tone ˈkē-ˌtōn How to pronounce ketone (audio)
: an organic compound (as acetone) with a carbonyl group attached to two carbon atoms

More from Merriam-Webster on ketone

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