a colorless, liquid or crystalline organic acid, CHCOCOOH, produced by the oxidation of lactic acid: it is a key intermediate in protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism in the cell and in the production of ATP
See pyruvic acid in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(pī-ro͞oˈvĭk, pĭ-)
noun
A colorless organic liquid, CH3COCOOH, formed as an intermediate in carbohydrate metabolism and fermentation and as an end product in glycolysis.