glutamic acid: Meaning and Definition of

glu•tam'ic ac'id

Pronunciation: (gl-tam'ik), [key]
— Biochem. Biochem.
  1. an amino acid, HOOCCHCHCH(NH)COOH, obtained by hydrolysis from wheat gluten and sugar-beet residues, used commercially chiefly in the form of its sodium salt to intensify the flavor of meat or other food. Abbr.: Glu; Symbol: E
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.