Beta-lactam Definition

bātə-lăktəm, bē-

noun

Any of a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as certain penicillins and cephalosporins, that contain a lactam ring.

American Heritage

A lactam composed of a four-membered ring, formed by intramolecular condensation of an amino acid in which the amino group is located at the beta position, or any compound containing this group.

American Heritage Medicine

A beta-lactam antibiotic.

American Heritage Medicine

(organic chemistry) A lactam having a four-membered ring structure; a structural element of many antibiotics such as penicillin.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Beta-lactam

Noun

Singular:

beta-lactam

Plural:

beta-lactams

Origin of Beta-lactam

beta second (in the series of lactam rings, the first being the simplest) lactam a cyclic amide (lact(one)) (am(ide))

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition