uric
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /jˈɔːrɪk/
US
- /ˈjɜrɪk/
Description
- related to uric acid
- caused by uric acid
- involving uric acid levels
The word "uric" is mainly used in medicine and biology. It describes something that is connected with uric acid, a waste product made when the body breaks down certain substances. You will most often see it in the phrase "uric acid," especially in discussions of gout, kidney stones, or blood test results. In that setting, "uric" signals that the topic is about the level, effect, or movement of this substance in the body.
You will not often hear "uric" in everyday conversation, but it appears regularly in medical writing and health science. It is common in terms such as "hyperuricemia," which means there is too much uric acid in the blood, and in descriptions of conditions linked to how the body processes and removes waste.
The term "uric" is an adjective used in biology, chemistry, and medicine. It means "related to uric acid." Uric acid is a natural waste product that forms when the body breaks down purines, which come from some foods and also from the body's own cells. A normal amount is expected, but too much can lead to health problems, so the word often appears in discussions of balance inside the body.
One of the most common examples is gout. This painful form of arthritis can happen when too much uric acid leads to crystal formation in the joints. The word is also tied to kidney function, because the kidneys help remove uric acid from the blood. When that process does not work well, uric acid levels can rise and become a health concern.
In medical language, "uric" appears in several related terms. For example, "hyperuricemia" means an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood. "Uricosuric" medicines help the body pass more uric acid in the urine. You may also see the word in discussions of lab tests, metabolism, kidney stones, and treatment for gout.
Even if you are not a doctor, understanding "uric" can help you read health news and lab results more clearly. When you see this word, it usually points to uric acid rather than to urine in general. In other words, it marks a medical idea connected with how the body makes, carries, or removes this specific waste product.
Examples
- 1
Blood test
The blood test showed that her uric acid level was higher than normal.
Meaning
uric acid
a waste substance in the body
- 2
Gout attacks
When uric acid builds up, it can cause painful gout attacks.
- 3
Diet advice
The doctor advised him to drink more water and change his diet to help lower his uric acid.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- uricadjective