1. An organic compound formed by the condensation of a hydroxy acid, containing a ring structure with a carbon-oxygen double bond as part of the ring.
Usage: chemistry term; commonly used in organic chemistry and biochemistry

Examples

• Lactones are important intermediates in the synthesis of many pharmaceuticals.
• The compound contains a five-membered lactone ring.
• Gamma-butyrolactone is a common lactone used in industrial applications.
• Lactones are formed when a carboxylic acid group reacts with a nearby hydroxyl group.
• Many natural products, including antibiotics, contain lactone functional groups.