Tartaric acid. (a) An acid widely diffused throughout the vegetable kingdom, as in grapes, mountain-ash berries, etc., and obtained from tartar as a white crystalline substance, C2H2(OH)2.(CO2H)2, having a strong pure acid taste. It is used in medicine, in dyeing, calico printing, photography, etc., and also as a substitute for lemon juice. Called also dextro-tartaric acid. (b) By extension, any one of the series of isomeric acids (racemic acid, levotartaric acid, inactive tartaric acid) of which tartaric acid proper is the type.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

tartaric, adj. Chem. of or produced from tartar.

Idiom

tartaric acid a natural carboxylic acid found esp. in unripe grapes, used in baking powders and as a food additive.

Etymology

F tartarique f. med.L tartarum: see TARTAR

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