phosphoenolpyruvic acid
noun
phos·pho·enol·pyr·uvic acid ˌfäs-ˌfō-ə-ˌnȯl-pī-ˈrü-vik- 
-ˌpī(-ə)r-ˈyü-vik-
: the phosphate H2C=C(OPO3H2)COOH of the enol form of pyruvic acid that is formed as an intermediate in carbohydrate metabolism
Word History
First Known Use
1959, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
phosphoenolpyruvic acid
noun
phos·pho·enol·pyr·uvic acid -pī-ˌrü-vik-, -ˌpī(ə)r-ˌyü-vik-
: the phosphate H2C=C(OPO3H2)COOH of the enol form of pyruvic acid that is formed as an intermediate in carbohydrate metabolism (as in the reversible dehydration of phosphoglyceric acid)
called also phosphopyruvic acid