lactam

L1A1C3T1A1M3
/ˈlækˌtæm/

noun

Any of a class of cyclic amides that are the nitrogen analogs of lactones, formed by heating amino acids; the tautomeric enol forms are known as lactims.

OriginEnglish am(ide) ← Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- ← Latin ammoniacus →
UncommonScrabble 10
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Meanings

nounlactam (plural lactams)

plural lactams

  1. chemistryAny of a class of cyclic amides that are the nitrogen analogs of lactones, formed by heating amino acids; the tautomeric enol forms are known as lactims.

Origin

  1. Latinlac
  2. Englishlacto-
  3. GermanKeton
  4. Englishketone
  5. Englishlac(tone)
  6. Egyptianjmn
  7. Ancient GreekᾸ̓́μμων (Ắmmōn)
  8. LatinAmmōn
  9. Latinammoniacus
  10. Englishammonia
  11. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-
  12. Englisham(ide)
  13. Englishlactam

From lac(tone) + am(ide).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish laktaami
  • laktaamicyclic amides, nitrogen analogs of lactones
French lactame
  • lactamecyclic amides, nitrogen analogs of lactones
Italian lattame
  • lattamecyclic amides, nitrogen analogs of lactones
Portuguese lactama
  • lactamacyclic amides, nitrogen analogs of lactones
Cite this entry
APA

lactam. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lactam

MLA

“lactam.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lactam. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lactam,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lactam.

Source: lactam on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.