Word Study
Urea
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun Urea has 1 sense
- urea(n = noun.substance) carbamide - the chief solid component of mammalian urine; synthesized from ammonia and carbon dioxide and used as fertilizer and in animal feed and in plastics; Array is a kind of organic compound
CIDE DICTIONARY
Urea, a. [NL. See Urine.].
A very soluble crystalline body which is the chief constituent of the urine in mammals and some other animals. It is also present in small quantity in blood, serous fluids, lymph, the liver, etc. [1913 Webster]
" It is the main product of the regressive metamorphosis (katabolism) of proteid matter in the body, and is excreted daily to the amount of about 500 grains by a man of average weight. Chemically it is carbamide, CO(NH2)2 , and when heated with strong acids or alkalies is decomposed into carbonic acid and ammonia. It unites with acids to form salts, as nitrate of urea, and it can be made synthetically from ammonium cyanate, with which it is isomeric."
[1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Urea, n. Biochem. a soluble colourless crystalline nitrogenous compound contained esp. in the urine of mammals.
Derivative
ureal adj.
Etymology
mod.L f. F ur{eacute}e f. Gk ouron urine
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