any of a group of inner amides, derived from amino acids, having the characteristic group -CONH-
Word origin
C20: from lact(one) + am(ide)
lactam in American English
(ˈlækˌtæm)
noun
any of a group of organic cyclic compounds containing the NHCO group in the ring, formed by the elimination of water from the amino and carboxyl groups; inner anhydride of an amino acid