pyruvic acid

noun

py·ru·vic acid | \ pī-ˈrü-vik-

Definition of pyruvic acid

: a 3-carbon acid C₃H₄O₃ that in carbohydrate metabolism is an important intermediate product formed especially during glycolysis

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For example, carbonaceous chondrites—some of the oldest rocks in the solar system—were recently found to harbor pyruvic acid, which is essential for metabolism. — David W. Brown, Smithsonian, "Searching for the Key to Life’s Beginnings," 2 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pyruvic acid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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6 Aug 2019

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The first known use of pyruvic acid was in 1838

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pyruvic acid

noun

py·ru·vic acid | \ pī-ˌrü-vik-

Medical Definition of pyruvic acid

: a 3-carbon acid C₃H₄O₃ that is an intermediate in carbohydrate metabolism and can be formed either from glucose after phosphorylation or from glycogen by glycolysis