Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Tartaric
{
Tar-ta′ri-an
,Tar-tar′ic
, }Adj.
Of or pertaining to Tartary in Asia, or the Tartars.
Tar-tar′ic
,Adj.
(Chem.)
Of or pertaining to tartar; derived from, or resembling, tartar.
Tartaric acid
. (a)
An acid widely diffused throughout the vegetable kingdom, as in grapes, mountain-ash berries, etc., and obtained from tartar as a white crystalline substance,
C2H2(OH)2.(CO2H)2
, having a strong pure acid taste. It is used in medicine, in dyeing, calico printing, photography, etc., and also as a substitute for lemon juice. Called also dextro-tartaric acid
. (b)
By extension, any one of the series of isomeric acids (racemic acid, levotartaric acid, inactive tartaric acid) of which tartaric acid proper is the type.