Amides are a type of organic compounds that contain a carbonyl group (C=O) and an amino group (NH2) attached to the same carbon atom. There are various synonyms for the word amides, including carboxamide, peptide, lactam, and imide. Carboxamide refers to amides derived from carboxylic acids, while peptides are amides resulting from amino acids that are linked together by peptide bonds. Lactams are cyclic amides that are found in many natural products, including antibiotics and plant alkaloids. Imides, on the other hand, are cyclic amides that contain two carbonyl groups joined to the same nitrogen atom. Knowing the different synonyms for amides can help scientists identify and classify them more accurately.