tartar
[ tahr-ter ]
/ ˈtɑr tər /
noun
Dentistry.
calculus(def 3).
the deposit from wines, potassium bitartrate.
the intermediate product of cream of tartar, obtained from the crude form, argol.
Origin of tartar
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin
tartarum < Late Greek
tártaron; replacing Middle English
tartre < Middle French < Medieval Latin, as above
Words nearby tartar
tart,
tart cell,
tart up,
tartan,
tartanry,
tartar,
tartar emetic,
tartar sauce,
tartar steak,
tartarated,
tartare
Definition for tartar (2 of 3)
Tartar
1
[ tahr-ter ]
/ ˈtɑr tər /
noun
adjective
of or relating to a Tartar or Tartars; Tartarian.
Also
Tatar
(for defs 1, 2, 4, 5, 8).
Origin of Tartar
1
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin
Tartarus, perhaps variant of
Tātārus (unattested) < Persian
Tātār, by association with
Tartarus; replacing Middle English
Tartre < Middle French < Medieval Latin, as above
OTHER WORDS FROM Tartar
Tar·tar·ly, adverbDefinition for tartar (3 of 3)
Example sentences from the Web for tartar
British Dictionary definitions for tartar (1 of 3)
tartar
1
/ (ˈtɑːtə) /
noun
dentistry
a hard crusty deposit on the teeth, consisting of food, cellular debris, and mineral salts
Also called: argol
a brownish-red substance consisting mainly of potassium hydrogen tartrate, present in grape juice and deposited during the fermentation of wine
Word Origin for tartar
C14: from Medieval Latin
tartarum, from Medieval Greek
tartaron
British Dictionary definitions for tartar (2 of 3)
tartar
2
/ (ˈtɑːtə) /
noun
(sometimes capital)
a fearsome or formidable person
Word Origin for tartar
C16: special use of
Tartar
British Dictionary definitions for tartar (3 of 3)
Medical definitions for tartar
tartar
[ tär′tər ]
n.
A hard, yellowish deposit on the teeth, consisting of organic secretions and food particles deposited in various salts, such as calcium carbonate.
dental calculus
Scientific definitions for tartar
tartar
[ tär′tər ]
A hard yellowish deposit on the teeth, consisting of organic secretions and food particles deposited in various salts, such as calcium carbonate.
A reddish acid compound consisting of a tartrate of potassium, found in the juice of grapes and deposited on the sides of wine casks.