acetoacetic acid

[ uh-see-toh-uh-see-tik, -uh-set-ik, as-i-toh- ]
/ əˌsi toʊ əˈsi tɪk, -əˈsɛt ɪk, ˌæs ɪ toʊ- /

noun Chemistry.

a colorless, oily liquid, C4H6O3, soluble in water, alcohol, and ether: used in synthetic organic chemistry.
Also called diacetic acid.

Origin of acetoacetic acid

First recorded in 1895–1900; aceto- + acetic

Medical definitions for acetoacetic acid

acetoacetic acid
[ ăs′ĭ-tō-ə-sētĭk, ə-sē′tō- ]

n.

A ketone body that is formed in excessive amounts and excreted in the urine of individuals suffering from starvation or diabetes. diacetic acid