acetoacetic acid
noun
ace·to·ace·tic acid ˌa-sə-(ˌ)tō-ə-ˈsē-tik- 
ə-ˌsē-tō-
: an unstable acid C4H6O3 that is a ketone body found in abnormal quantities in the blood and urine in some conditions (such as diabetes)
Word History
Etymology
partial translation of German Acetessigsäure, from acet- acet- + Essigsäure "acetic acid"
First Known Use
1877, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
acetoacetic acid
noun
ace·to·ace·tic acid ˌas-ə-(ˌ)tō-ə-ˌsēt-ik- ə-ˌsēt-ō-
ə-ˌsēt-ō- : an unstable acid C4H6O3 that is one of the ketone bodies found in abnormal amounts in the blood and urine in certain conditions of impaired metabolism (as in starvation and diabetes mellitus)
called also diacetic acid