noun
: a strong dicarboxylic acid HOOC(CHOH) 2 COOH occurring in four optically isomeric crystalline forms; 2,3-dihydroxy-succinic acid:
a. : a dextrorotatory or r (+)-tartaric acid that is widely distributed in plants and especially in fruits (as grapes and mountainash) both free and combined as salts, that is usually obtained from tartar, and that is used chiefly in effervescent beverages and pharmaceutical preparations, in desserts and candies, in photography, in making salts and esters, and as a sequestrant
b. : a levorotatory or l (-)-tartaric acid obtained usually by resolving the racemic acid
c. : racemic acid
d. : an internally compensated optically inactive meso acid obtained usually as the crystalline monohydrate by heating the other form with alkali