1. Organic compounds containing a ring structure made up of atoms of two or more different elements, typically carbon and nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.
Usage: chemistry; plural form; singular is heterocyclic; technical/scientific term

Examples

• Pyridine and pyrrole are common heterocyclics used in pharmaceutical research.
• Many heterocyclics are found naturally in vitamins and nucleic acids.
• The chemist synthesized several new heterocyclics for the drug development project.
• Heterocyclics containing nitrogen are particularly important in medicinal chemistry.
• The properties of heterocyclics depend on the types and positions of atoms in the ring.