ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lactic

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈɫæktɪk// UK //lˈæktɪk// lac·tic

adj. relating to milk or the acid that builds up in your muscles when you exercise hard.

adj. relating to milk or the acid produced in muscle tissue during anaerobic respiration. Often used in medical or biological contexts to describe specific chemical properties.


SIMPLE

The doctor tested the sample for lactic acid.

CONTEXTUAL

After a long run, the buildup of lactic acid in his legs caused a sharp, burning pain.

COMPLEX

The fermentation process converts the natural sugars in the milk into lactic acid, which gives the final product its characteristic tangy flavor and thick texture.

Origin

From Latin lactis (“of milk”), genitive form of lac (“milk”), with the suffix -ic.

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