urea

[yoo-ree-uh, yoo r-ee-uh] /yʊˈri ə, ˈyʊər i ə/
noun
1.
Biochemistry. a compound, CO(NH 2) 2 , occurring in urine and other body fluids as a product of protein metabolism.
2.
Chemistry. a water-soluble powder form of this compound, obtained by the reaction of liquid ammonia and liquid carbon dioxide: used as a fertilizer, animal feed, in the synthesis of plastics, resins, and barbiturates, and in medicine as a diuretic and in the diagnosis of kidney function.
Also called carbamide.
Origin
1800-10; < New Latin < French urée; ultimately < Greek oûron urine or oureîn to urinate; see uro-1
Related forms
ureal, ureic, adjective
Examples from the web for urea
  • The water in the frog's cells freezes and is replaced with glucose and urea to keep cells from collapsing.
  • Surprisingly, no mention of urea, the major nitrogen- containing component of urine.
  • They secrete the blood protein albumin, synthesize urea, and make the enzymes necessary to break down drugs and toxins.
  • Debridement can help, and there has been some research into a urea paste that is encouraging.
  • Urine urea nitrogen is a measure of protein breakdown in the body.
  • The facility includes ammonia, urea, nitric acid and solution blending operations.
  • Most of the ammonia produced in the body is used by the liver to produce urea.
  • But research over the years has suggested that drinking extra water helps the kidneys clear sodium, urea and toxins from the body.
  • The urea tank is large enough to be filled only at typical oil change intervals.
British Dictionary definitions for urea

urea

/ˈjʊərɪə/
noun
1.
a white water-soluble crystalline compound with a saline taste and often an odour of ammonia, produced by protein metabolism and excreted in urine. A synthetic form is used as a fertilizer, animal feed, and in the manufacture of synthetic resins. Formula: CO(NH2)2 Also called carbamide
Derived Forms
ureal, ureic, adjective
Word Origin
C19: from New Latin, from French urée, from Greek ouronurine
Word Origin and History for urea

1806, Latinized from French urée (1803), from Greek ouron "urine" (see urine).

urea in Medicine

urea u·re·a (yu-rē'ə)
n.
A water-soluble compound that is the major nitrogenous end product of protein metabolism and is the chief nitrogenous component of the urine in mammals and other organisms. Also called carbamide.

urea in Science
urea
  (y-rē'ə)   
The chief nitrogen-containing waste product excreted in the urine of mammals and some fish. It is the final nitrogenous product in the breakdown of proteins by the body, during which amino groups (NH2) are removed from amino acids and converted into ammonium ions (NH4), which are toxic at high concentrations. The liver then converts the ammonium ions into urea. Urea is also made artificially for use in fertilizers and medicine. Chemical formula: CON2H4.