Tartar

Pronunciation

• enPR: tärʹ-tÉ™r, IPA: /ˈtÉ‘r.tÉ™r/
• UK IPA: ˈtɑː.tÉ™(ɹ)
• US IPA: ˈtɑɹ.ɾɚ
• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)tÉ™(r)
• Hyphenation: tar + tar
• Homophones: tarter

Via Middle English, via Medieval Latin from τάρταρον, probably from Arabic.

Full definition of tartar

Noun

1. A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate - a source of cream of tartar.
2. A hard yellow deposit on the teeth.

Derived terms

• tartarous

From figurative use of Tartar

1. (dated) A fearsome or angrily violent person.