Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Lactic"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Lactic \Lac"tic\, a. [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactique. See
{Lacteal}, and cf. {Galactic}.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Of or pertaining to milk; procured from sour milk or whey;
as, lactic acid; lactic fermentation, etc.

{Lactic acid} (Physiol. Chem.), a sirupy, colorless fluid,
soluble in water, with an intensely sour taste and strong
acid reaction. There are at least three isomeric
modifications all having the formula {C3H6O3}. Sarcolactic
or paralactic acid occurs chiefly in dead muscle tissue,
while ordinary lactic acid results from fermentation. The
two acids are alike in having the same constitution
(expressed by the name ethylidene lactic acid), but the
latter is optically inactive, while sarcolactic acid
rotates the plane of polarization to the right. The third
acid, ethylene lactic acid, accompanies sarcolactic acid
in the juice of flesh, and is optically inactive.

{Lactic ferment}, an organized ferment ({Bacterium lacticum
or lactis}), which produces lactic fermentation,
decomposing the sugar of milk into carbonic and lactic
acids, the latter, of which renders the milk sour, and
precipitates the casein, thus giving rise to the so-called
spontaneous coagulation of milk.

{Lactic fermentation}. See under {Fermentation}.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

lactic
adj : of or relating to or obtained from milk (especially sour
milk or whey); "lactic acid"; "lactic fermentation"


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