polyketide
noun
poly·ke·tide ˌpä-lē-ˈkē-ˌtīd 
: any of a large class of diverse compounds that are characterized by more than two carbonyl groups connected by single intervening carbon atoms, that are produced especially by certain bacteria and fungi, and that include various substances (such as erythromycin and lovastatin) having antibiotic, anticancer, cholesterol-lowering, or immunosuppressive effects
Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary poly- + keto- + -ide
First Known Use
1927, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
polyketide
noun
poly·ke·tide ˌpäl-ē-ˈkē-ˌtīd
: any of a large class of diverse compounds that are characterized by more than two carbonyl groups connected by single intervening carbon atoms, that are produced especially by certain bacteria and fungi, and that include various substances (as erythromycin and lovastatin) having antibiotic, anticancer, cholesterol-lowering, or immunosuppressive effects