noun
tartar
TAH-tuh
Tartar (noun) means a hard yellowish deposit that builds up on teeth from unremoved plaque. Example: “Regular brushing helps prevent tartar buildup.”
noun
1
A hard yellowish deposit that builds up on teeth from unremoved plaque.
"Regular brushing helps prevent tartar buildup."
"The dentist scraped the tartar off before polishing her teeth."
2
(informal) A fierce or bad-tempered person.
"His grandmother was a real tartar when it came to table manners."
How to use tartar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe hard deposit that forms on teeth, or, informally, a fierce and demanding person.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "tartare" (the raw-meat dish) or "Tatar" (referring to the Turkic ethnic group).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tartar buildup
cream of tartar
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like tartar.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- tartars
- Comparative
- more Tartar
- Superlative
- most Tartar
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Regular brushing helps prevent _____ buildup.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin tartarum, itself from a Byzantine Greek word, possibly ultimately connected to an Arabic or Persian word for sediment or dregs.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “tartar” mean?
The word “tartar” means a hard yellowish deposit that builds up on teeth from unremoved plaque. In plain terms, the hard deposit that forms on teeth, or, informally, a fierce and demanding person.
How do you pronounce “tartar”?
“Tartar” is pronounced TAH-tuh (/ˈtɑɹ.tɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tartar” in a sentence?
Here is “tartar” used in a sentence: “Regular brushing helps prevent tartar buildup.”
What part of speech is “tartar”?
“Tartar” is a noun.
Where does the word “tartar” come from?
The word “tartar” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin tartarum, itself from a Byzantine Greek word, possibly ultimately connected to an Arabic or Persian word for sediment or dregs.
How many meanings does “tartar” have?
“Tartar” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hard yellowish deposit that builds up on teeth from unremoved plaque.
