tartar

[ tahr-ter ]

/ ˈtɑr tər /

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noun

Dentistry. calculus (def. 3).

the deposit from wines, potassium bitartrate.

the intermediate product of cream of tartar, obtained from the crude form, argol.

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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

tarsus, TAR syndrome, tart, tartan, tartanry, tartar, tartarated, tartare, Tartarean, tartar emetic, tartare sauce

Definition for tartar (2 of 3)

Tartar¹

[ tahr-ter ]

/ ˈtɑr tər /

noun

a member of any of the various tribes, chiefly Mongolian and Turkish, who, originally under the leadership of Genghis Khan, overran Asia and much of eastern Europe in the Middle Ages.

a member of the descendants of this people variously intermingled with other peoples and tribes, now inhabiting parts of the European and western and central Asian Russian Federation.

Tatar (defs. 1-3).

(often lowercase) a savage, intractable person.

(often lowercase) an ill-tempered person.

adjective

of or relating to a Tartar or Tartars; Tartarian.

Tatar (def. 5).

Also Tatar (for defs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 8).

Origin of Tartar

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin Tartarus, perhaps variant of Tātārus (unattested), from Persian Tātār, by association with Tartarus; replacing Middle English Tartre, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin, as above

OTHER WORDS FROM Tartar

Tar·tar·ly, adverb

Definition for tartar (3 of 3)

Tartar²

[ tahr-ter ]

/ ˈtɑr tər /

noun Obsolete.

Tartarus.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use tartar in a sentence

In the longer term, she sees big strides in preventing tartar build-up and halting receding gums.
Oil Pulling: Miracle Cure or Oily Mess?|DailyBurn|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To assemble taco place escabeche, fish and tartar sauce in a tortilla and garnish with cilantro and lime.
Cinco de Mayo Recipes: Tacos for One and All||May 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
For tartar sauce combine diced onions and jalapenos with mayo and mix well.
Cinco de Mayo Recipes: Tacos for One and All||May 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Try adding a pinch of cream of tartar to the whites for a similar effect.
Cracking the Code on All Things Egg|Jessica Konopa|September 15, 2009|DAILY BEAST

Dissolve the sugar, water and cream of tartar in a saucepan over a low heat.
Pumpkin Seed Brittle|The Daily Beast|November 25, 2008|DAILY BEAST
If thus used two or three days in succession it will effectually loosen tartar, even of long standing.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
A simple mixture of charcoal and cream of tartar is an excellent tooth-powder.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
A carriage forcibly stopped in the Rue Royale, and in broad daylight—only this Tartar would have dared such a stroke as that!
The Nabob|Alphonse Daudet
Twelve hundred of them did better service against the Tartar than twelve thousand Russians with their short bows and arrows.
The Story of Moscow|Wirt Gerrare
Osman, the ruling bashaw, although a Turk, was a regular Tartar to deal with.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks|Bracebridge Hemyng

British Dictionary definitions for tartar (1 of 3)

tartar¹

/ (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)

tartar²

/ (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)

Tartar

/ (ˈtɑːtə) /

noun, adjective

a variant spelling of Tatar

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.