\Tar*tar"ic\, a. (Chem.)
Of or pertaining to tartar; derived from, or resembling,
tartar.
{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.