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lactic acid
noun
: a hygroscopic organic acid C3H6O3 present normally especially in muscle tissue as a by-product of anaerobic glycolysis, produced in carbohydrate matter usually by bacterial fermentation, and used especially in food and medicine and in industry
Examples of lactic acid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Other ingredients include niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 that brightens the skin tone, and lactic acid to exfoliate dead skin cells and tighten the pores.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2024
Then, these friendly microbes consume the sugars present in your fruits and vegetables and convert them into carbon dioxide and lactic acid, effectively lowering the pH and acting as a natural preservative.
—Alex Testere, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2024
The process made milk more easily digestible, with microbes producing lactic acid that causes milk to curdle and form the basis of cheese.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 25 Sep. 2024
Additionally, this hyaluronic acid serum also includes lactic acid, which helps reduce acne breakouts and reduce the appearance of blemishes for an overall smoother complexion.
—Jessie Quinn, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1790, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near lactic acid
Cite this Entry
“Lactic acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lactic%20acid. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
lactic acid
noun
lac·tic acid
ˌlak-tik-
: an organic acid present especially in muscle tissue as a result of the breakdown of carbohydrates (as glycogen), is made from carbohydrates usually by fermentation by bacteria, and is used especially in food and medicine
Medical Definition
lactic acid
noun
: a hygroscopic organic acid C3H6O3 that is known in three optically isomeric forms:
a
or D-lactic acid
: the dextrorotatory form present normally in blood and muscle tissue as a product of the anaerobic metabolism of glucose and glycogen
b
or L-lactic acid
: the levorotatory form obtained by biological fermentation of sucrose
c
or DL-lactic acid
: the racemic form present in food products and made usually by bacterial fermentation (as of whey or raw sugar) but also synthetically, and used chiefly in foods and beverages, in medicine, in tanning and dyeing, and in making esters for use as solvents and plasticizers
More from Merriam-Webster on lactic acid
Nglish: Translation of lactic acid for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lactic acid
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