uric acid

noun

Definition of uric acid

: a white odorless and tasteless nearly insoluble acid C₅H₄N₄O₃ that is the chief nitrogenous waste present in the urine especially of birds, reptiles, and insects, is present in small quantity in human urine, and occurs pathologically in renal calculi and the tophi of gout

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This inflammatory arthritis is triggered when a waste product called uric acid crystallizes within the joints, causing excruciating pain and swelling. — Health.com, "7 Health Benefits of Cherries," 13 June 2018 Cucumbers Cucumbers have sulfur and silicon which increase urination by stimulating the kidneys into better removal of uric acid. — Stephanie Feuer, Good Housekeeping, "9 Fruits And Vegetables That Are Natural Diuretics—No Pills Necessary," 5 Sep. 2017 David Lee’s unnamed character has just arrived from a place whose main exports are sarcasm and uric acid. — Matthew J. Palm, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Review: Title and Deed - Fringe 2018," 14 May 2018 Japanese researchers designed a device to monitor uric acid and American and Brazilian scientists created another to monitor glucose; both contained biosensors and wireless communications modules. — Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, "This Tiny Tooth Sensor Could Keep Track of the Food You Eat," 20 Apr. 2018 Peas are a source of purines, which can increase the amount of uric acid in your blood and potentially lead to a gout flare-up. — Emily Abbate, GQ, "Protein Powder Supplements, Explained: Your Complete Guide to the Smoothie Bar Menu," 5 Mar. 2018 About 20 percent of gout sufferers, without therapy, will develop kidney stones made from uric acid, not calcium oxalate. — Philly.com, "For Franklin, it came down to lifestyle, family history," 8 Oct. 2017 Today, uric acid crystals are easily recovered and identified under the microscope. — Philly.com, "For Franklin, it came down to lifestyle, family history," 8 Oct. 2017 In 1776, uric acid was discovered by Swedish German scientist Carl Wilhelm Scheele, who found it in kidney stones and urine. — Philly.com, "For Franklin, it came down to lifestyle, family history," 8 Oct. 2017

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

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uric acid

noun

Medical Definition of uric acid

: a white odorless nearly insoluble weak acid C₅H₄N₄O₃ that is present in small quantity in mammalian urine as an end product of purine metabolism, is present abundantly in the form of urates in the excreta of most lower vertebrates and invertebrates as the chief nitrogenous waste, and occurs pathologically in renal calculi and the tophi of gout