tartar

5 definitions found

tartar - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A correction which often incrusts the teeth, consisting of
        salivary mucus, animal matter, and phosphate of lime.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]

  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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A person of a keen, irritable temper.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     To catch a tartar, to lay hold of, or encounter, a person
        who proves too strong for the assailant. [Colloq.]
        [1913 Webster]

  Tartar \Tar"tar\, a.
     Of or pertaining to Tartary in Asia, or the Tartars.
     [1913 Webster]

  Tartar \Tar"tar\, n. [Cf. F. tartare.]
     See Tartarus. --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]

tartar - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  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]