oxaloacetic acid

noun

ox·​a·​lo·​ace·​tic acid ˌäk-sə-lō-ə-ˈsē-tik- 

variants or less commonly oxalacetic acid

ˌäk-sə-lə-ˈsē-tik- 

: a crystalline acid C₄H₄O₅ that is formed by reversible oxidation of malic acid (as in carbohydrate metabolism via the Krebs cycle) and in reversible transamination reactions (as from aspartic acid)

Word History

Etymology

oxalic + acetic acid

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

oxaloacetic acid

noun

ox·​a·​lo·​ace·​tic acid ˌäk-sə-lō-ə-ˌsēt-ik- 

variants also oxalacetic acid

ˌäk-sə-lə-ˌsēt-ik- 

: a crystalline acid C₄H₄O₅ that is formed by reversible oxidation of malic acid (as in carbohydrate metabolism via the Krebs cycle) and in reversible transamination reactions (as from aspartic acid)