lactic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   relating to, derived from, or occurring in milk

   The laboratory examined the lactic proteins remaining in the whey.

2. 2
   adj

   relating to lactic acid or to microorganisms and processes that produce it

   Lactic fermentation gives yogurt its characteristic acidity.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Lactic, recorded from the late 18th century, comes from Latin lac, meaning “milk,” and means “relating to milk.” The same Latin root appears in lactuca, the source of lettuce, named with reference to the plant’s milky juice.

Formed from Latin lact-, the stem of lac, 'milk,' + -ic. Chemists first used lactic for acid isolated from sour milk, and the adjective broadened to fermentation, bacteria, and compounds associated with lactic acid.

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