lactic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lactic
Explanation
Scientists use the word lactic for substances that have to do with milk. Lactic acid is the substance that makes things like yogurt and buttermilk taste sour. The term lactic comes from the French lactique and its Latin root, lac, or "milk." The word is almost always connected to acid — lactic acid, also known as lactate, is the byproduct of a chemical reaction that occurs in milk as it ferments. Lactic acid is also present in our bodies, as it's produced by muscles that are working hard, in our guts, and even in our mouths.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
How do I get that lactic acid out of my body - massages or ice baths?
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
“You’ve got lactic acid up to your eyeballs,” Porino said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
The researchers used direct acidification in their experiments, adding lactic acid to H5N1-spiked milk to produce cheeses with varying levels of acidity for testing.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2025
The lactic acid, after some time, will cause the dough to smell like beer.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2025
My entire body aches, especially my legs, which burn with lactic acid even when I am not moving.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
