Lactam

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Lactam \Lac"tam\, n. [Lactone + amido.] (Chem.)
     One of a series of anhydrides of an amido type, analogous to
     the lactones, as oxindol; a cyclic amide.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {beta-lactam} or {[beta]-lactam},


     (a) a lactam in which the amide bond is contained within a
         four-membered ring, which includes the amide nitrogen and
         the carbonyl carbon.
     (b) an antibiotic containing a beta-lactam, such as a
         {penicillin}, {cephalosporin}, or {carbapenem}; also
         called a {beta-lactam antibiotic}. [informal, laboratory
         slang]
         [PJC]