oxaloacetic acid

noun

One of the constituents of the citric acid cycle, formed by the oxidation of malic acid and via the transamination of aspartic acid; an intermediate in the synthesis of amino acids and the metabolism of carbohydrates

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oxalacetic acid
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Meanings

nounoxaloacetic acid (uncountable)
  1. uncountableOne of the constituents of the citric acid cycle, formed by the oxidation of malic acid and via the transamination of aspartic acid; an intermediate in the synthesis of amino acids and the metabolism of carbohydrates
  2. uncountablechemistrya colourless crystalline organic carboxylic acid, butan-2-one-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, COOH.CH₂.CO.COOH

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan acid formed by oxidation of maleic acid (as in metabolism of fats and carbohydrates)

Similar
oxalacetic acid
Broader
aciddicarboxylic acid

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From oxalo- + acetic acid.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

oxaloacetic acid. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxaloacetic%20acid

MLA

“oxaloacetic acid.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxaloacetic%20acid. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oxaloacetic acid,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxaloacetic%20acid.

Source: oxaloacetic acid on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.