urea
/'ju ri /
Definition
Noun 1. A chemical compound: Urea is the primary nitrogen-containing substance in the urine of mammals. It is a colorless, crystalline compound that is the final product of protein metabolism in the body. 2. An industrial and agricultural product: Urea is also synthesized from ammonia and carbon dioxide for widespread use as a nitrogen-release fertilizer, an additive in animal feed, and a raw material in the manufacture of plastics and resins.
Usage Examples
- Biological Context:
- The kidneys filter waste products like urea from the blood.
- A high level of urea in the blood can indicate kidney dysfunction.
- Industrial/Agricultural Context:
- Farmers apply urea to their fields to provide nitrogen for crop growth.
- This type of plastic is manufactured using urea as a key component.
Advanced Usage
- "Urea cycle": A series of biochemical reactions occurring in the liver that produces urea from ammonia, which is toxic to the body.
- A defect in the urea cycle can lead to a dangerous buildup of ammonia in the blood.
Variants and Related Words
- Uremia (noun): A clinical condition associated with abnormally high levels of urea and other waste products in the blood.
- Urease (noun): An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia.
Synonyms
- Carbamide: The systematic IUPAC name for the chemical compound urea.
Related Phrases and Compounds
- Urea-formaldehyde: A type of thermosetting resin made from urea and formaldehyde, used in adhesives, finishes, and molded objects.
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): A common blood test that measures the amount of nitrogen in the blood that comes from urea, used to assess kidney function.
Noun
- the chief solid component of mammalian urine; synthesized from ammonia and carbon dioxide and used as fertilizer and in animal feed and in plastics
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