Tartar
/'tɑ:tə/
Definition
- Noun:
- A hard, yellowish deposit on the teeth: A crusty, calcified substance that forms on teeth and gums from plaque, also called dental calculus.
- A member of a group of Central Asian peoples: A person belonging to various Turkic-speaking peoples, historically including those of the Mongol Empire who invaded parts of Europe and Asia.
- (Informal, dated) A harsh, irritable, or violent-tempered person: Often used specifically to describe a woman with a sharp or fierce temper.
- A salt used in cooking and baking: Potassium bitartrate (cream of tartar), a byproduct of winemaking used as a stabilizer or leavening agent.
Usage Examples
Noun (Dental Deposit): Regular brushing helps prevent the buildup of tartar on your teeth. The dental hygienist removed the tartar during my cleaning.
Noun (Central Asian People): The Tartar armies were formidable under Genghis Khan. She studied the history of the Tartar peoples.
Noun (Irritable Person): His boss was a real tartar, always criticizing everyone's work. (Note: This usage is now considered old-fashioned and potentially offensive.)
Noun (Cooking Salt): Add a pinch of tartar to the egg whites to help them stiffen. Cream of tartar is a key ingredient in many baking powder recipes.
Advanced Usage
- "To catch a Tartar": An idiom meaning to encounter or confront someone who is unexpectedly formidable or more powerful than oneself, resulting in a difficult situation.
Variants and Related Words
- Tatar: An alternative spelling often used interchangeably with "Tartar" when referring to the ethnic group, though "Tatar" is now generally preferred in academic contexts.
- Cream of tartar: The common name for potassium bitartrate.
- Tartaric acid: The organic acid from which cream of tartar is derived.
Synonyms
- For Dental Tartar: Calculus, dental calculus.
- For Irritable Person: Harridan, shrew, termagant, virago (all dated and often gender-specific).
- For the Salt: Potassium bitartrate, cream of tartar.
Related Phrases
- Tartar sauce: A condiment made with mayonnaise, chopped pickles, capers, and herbs. (Note: This is a compound word listed here as a related culinary term, not a direct meaning of "tartar" alone).
Noun
-
an incrustation that forms on the teeth and gums
-
a member of the Mongolian people of central Asia who invaded Russia in the 13th century
-
a fiercely vigilant and unpleasant woman
-
a salt used especially in baking powder
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