13 definitions found for tartar

Tartar T`ARTAR, n.
1. An acid concrete salt, formed from wines completely fermented, and adhering to the sides of the casks in the form of a hard crust. It is white or red, the white being most esteemed. In its crude state, it is much used as a flux in the assaying of ores.
Tartar is a supertartrate of potash; that is, a compound of tartaric acid and potash, having the acid in excess.
2. A person of a keen irritable temper.
3. A native of Tartary; a corruption of Tatar.
T`ARTAR, n. [L. Tartarus.] Hell. [Not in use.]

tartar n 1: a salt used especially in baking powder [syn: cream of tartar, tartar, potassium bitartrate, potassium hydrogen tartrate] 2: a fiercely vigilant and unpleasant woman [syn: dragon, tartar] 3: a member of the Mongolian people of central Asia who invaded Russia in the 13th century [syn: Tatar, Tartar, Mongol Tatar] 4: an incrustation that forms on the teeth and gums [syn: tartar, calculus, tophus]

Tartar
n. & adj. (also Tatar except in sense 2 of n.)
--n.
1 a a member of a group of Central Asian peoples including Mongols and Turks. b the Turkic language of these peoples.
2 (tartar) a violent-tempered or intractable person.
--adj.
1 of or relating to the Tartars.
2 of or relating to Central Asia E. of the Caspian Sea.
Phrases and idioms:
tartar sauce a sauce of mayonnaise and chopped gherkins, capers, etc.
Derivatives:
Tartarian adj.
Etymology: ME tartre f. OF Tartare or med.L Tartarus

tartar
n.
1 a hard deposit of saliva, calcium phosphate, etc., that forms on the teeth.
2 a deposit of acid potassium tartrate that forms a hard crust on the inside of a cask during the fermentation of wine.
Phrases and idioms:
tartar emetic potassium antimony tartrate used as a mordant and in medicine (formerly as an emetic).
Derivatives:
tartarize v.tr. (also -ise).
Etymology: ME f. med.L f. med.Gk tartaron

tartar (tartars) 1. Tartar is a hard yellowish substance that forms on your teeth and causes them to decay if it is not removed. N-UNCOUNT 2. If you describe someone, especially a woman in a position of authority, as a tartar, you mean that they are fierce, bad-tempered, and strict. (INFORMAL) She can be quite a tartar. N-COUNT 3. see also cream of tartar

Tartar ˈtɑ:tə n. & adj. (also Tatar except in sense 2 of n.) --n. 1 a a member of a group of Central Asian peoples including Mongols and Turks. b the Turkic language of these peoples. 2 (tartar) a violent-tempered or intractable person. --adj. 1 of or relating to the Tartars. 2 of or relating to Central Asia E. of the Caspian Sea. øtartar sauce a sauce of mayonnaise and chopped gherkins, capers, etc. øøTartarian adj. [ME tartre f. OF Tartare or med.L Tartarus]

tartar ˈtɑ:tə n. 1 a hard deposit of saliva, calcium phosphate, etc., that forms on the teeth. 2 a deposit of acid potassium tartrate that forms a hard crust on the inside of a cask during the fermentation of wine. øtartar emetic potassium antimony tartrate used as a mordant and in medicine (formerly as an emetic). øøtartarize v.tr. (also -ise). [ME f. med.L f. med.Gk tartaron]

TARTAR To catch a Tartar; to attack one of superior strength or abilities. This saying originated from a story of an Irish-soldier in the Imperial service, who, in a battle against the Turks, called out to his comrade that he had caught a Tartar. 'Bring him along then,' said he. 'He won't come,' answered Paddy. 'Then come along yourself,' replied his comrade. 'Arrah,' cried he, 'but he won't let me.'--A Tartar is also an adept at any feat, or game: he is quite a Tartar at cricket, or billiards.

Tartar Tar"tar, n. 1. [Per. T[=a]t[=a]r, of Tartar origin.] A native or inhabitant of Tartary in Asia; a member of any one of numerous tribes, chiefly Moslem, of Turkish origin, inhabiting the Russian Europe; -- written also, more correctly but less usually, Tatar. 2. A person of a keen, irritable temper. To catch a tartar, to lay hold of, or encounter, a person who proves too strong for the assailant. [Colloq.]

Tartar Tar"tar, n. [F. tartre (cf. Pr. tartari, Sp., Pg., & It. tartaro, LL. tartarum, LGr. ?); perhaps of Arabic origin.] 1. (Chem.) A reddish crust or sediment in wine casks, consisting essentially of crude cream of tartar, and used in marking pure cream of tartar, tartaric acid, potassium carbonate, black flux, etc., and, in dyeing, as a mordant for woolen goods; -- called also argol, wine stone, etc. 2. A correction which often incrusts the teeth, consisting of salivary mucus, animal matter, and phosphate of lime. Cream of tartar. (Chem.) See under Cream. Tartar emetic (Med. Chem.), a double tartrate of potassium and basic antimony. It is a poisonous white crystalline substance having a sweetish metallic taste, and used in medicine as a sudorific and emetic.

Tartar Tar"tar, a. Of or pertaining to Tartary in Asia, or the Tartars.

Tartar Tar"tar, n. [Cf. F. tartare.] See Tartarus. --Shak.

tartar n. 1. Argol, bitartrate of potash (crude). 2. Ill-tempered person.