lactic

/'læktik/

Thân thiện

Lactic acid gives yogurt its tangy flavor.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to milk: Pertaining to or derived from milk.
   • Specifically relating to a type of acid: Of or relating to a clear, syrupy organic acid (C₃H₆O₃) formed in sour milk and produced in muscle tissue during strenuous exercise.

Usage

The adjective "lactic" is primarily used in scientific, nutritional, and physiological contexts to describe substances, processes, or conditions connected to milk or to the specific acid produced from it. It is most commonly seen in the fixed compound term "lactic acid."

Examples

• General Use:

  • The cheese-making process involves lactic fermentation.
  • Yogurt contains lactic acid bacteria, which are beneficial for digestion.

• In Physiology:

  • Intense exercise can lead to a buildup of lactic acid in the muscles, causing fatigue.
  • The lactic threshold is an important measure for athletes.

Advanced Usage

• "Lactic fermentation": A metabolic process by which sugars are converted into lactic acid by bacteria, used in food preservation and production (e.g., yogurt, sauerkraut).

  • Lactic fermentation is an ancient method for preserving vegetables.

• "Lactic acidosis": A medical condition characterized by the buildup of lactic acid in the body, leading to increased acidity of the blood.

  • The doctor monitored the patient for signs of lactic acidosis.

Variants and Related Words

• Lactate (verb): To secrete milk. (noun): A salt or ester of lactic acid.

  • Muscle cells lactate during anaerobic respiration.
  • Sodium lactate is used as a preservative.

• Lactation (noun): The secretion of milk by the mammary glands.

  • Proper nutrition is important during lactation.

Synonyms

• Milky: Resembling or containing milk (though this is more general and visual, not specifically chemical like "lactic").
• Galactic: Pertaining to milk (an archaic or highly technical synonym, from Greek ).

Notes on Meaning

The core meaning of "lactic" is inextricably linked to milk. Its most frequent and specific application in modern English is in the term "lactic acid," which bridges the original dairy context (sour milk) and the physiological context (muscle metabolism). It is rarely used alone without "acid" or another qualifying noun (e.g., bacteria, fermentation).

Học thuật

Adjective

1. of or relating to or obtained from milk (especially sour milk or whey)
   • lactic acid
   • lactic fermentation