ˈlakˌtam, ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun
( s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary lact one + am ide; originally formed in German
: any of a class of inner amides of amino carboxylic acids formed by the loss of a molecule of water from the amino and carboxyl groups and characterized by the carbonyl-imido grouping −CONH− in a ring — compare lactim , lactone , sultam