noun
tartar
TAH-tuh
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
Word Forms
more Tartar comparative, tartars plural, tartars plural, most Tartar superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “tartar”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
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.