I. ˈtär]t, ˈtȧ], usu ]d.+V\ adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English teart sharp, severe; akin to Middle High German traz, truz spite, hostility, stubbornness, Middle Dutch torten to defy, challenge and probably to Old English teran to tear — more at tear
1.
a. : agreeably acid, sharp, or piquant to the taste : acidulous , pungent
a tart , fiery applejack — New York Times
soup tart with quantities of fresh watercress — American Guide Series: New York City
b. : possessing a sharp or mildly acrid odor
the tart smell of rainy grass — V.S.Pritchett
2. : marked by a biting, acrimonious, or cutting quality : caustic
his tart deflations of the more boastful accounts — H.A.Larrabee
insert tart rejoinders to the opposition's noisy interjections — Guy Eden
a short, tart , scathing laugh — Mary McCarthy
a sort of tart but not sour cheerfulness — Arnold Bennett
was decidely tart in his admonitions — A.T.Quiller-Couch
Synonyms: see sour
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English tarte, from Middle French
1. : a small pie or shell of pastry containing jelly, custard, or fruit and often having no top crust
2. : a wanton or loose girl or woman ; especially : prostitute
morals was what kept you out of going to bed … with some tart or other — Richard Llewellyn
III. abbreviation
1. tartar
2. tartaric