lactic acid
nounDefinition of lactic acid
: 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
This activates the natural yeast in the environment to build a starter, and lactic acid naturally forms in the mash. — Jenn Harrisstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, "A complete guide to sake from the sake guru at Ototo," 8 Aug. 2019 Senthilnathan, who’s also a molecular biologist, explains that the moisture and nutrients drawn out by the salt allows for lactic acid bacteria to thrive, and the oil and spices inhibit bad bacteria growth. — SFChronicle.com, "A world tour of pickles in the Bay Area and how to make them," 26 July 2019 There’s much more to the product than caffeine, though; Ford tells WWD that the products also contain AHAs like glycolic and lactic acids, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Tom Ford Is Launching a Skin-Care Collection Called Tom Ford Research," 18 July 2019 And ones that contain alpha hydroxy acids (such as lactic acid or glycolic acid) or salicylic acid will be especially helpful for these conditions. — Sara Coughlin, SELF, "What’s the Actual Deal With Skin Toners and Essences?," 9 July 2019 Sunday Riley Game Changer Kit This is a seriously good deal on a killer skincare set, containing a gentle cleanser and cult favorite lactic acid serum, that rarely goes on sale. — Sara Hendricks, USA TODAY, "5 of the best beauty deals you can get this Prime Day," 16 July 2019 And compression therapy is said to reduce inflammation and fluid collection, help remove toxins such as lactic acid, improve blood circulation, prevent and eliminate varicose veins, and strengthen loose skin caused by pregnancy or obesity. — Tyra Mcclung, courant.com, "Afloat In Avon: Wellness Therapy Promotes Relaxation, Relieves Sports Injuries," 2 July 2019 These dual-sided pads provide both chemical and physical exfoliation through lactic acid, and will help me get baby soft skin. — Tiffany Dodson, SELF, "Ulta Is Having a 50 Percent Off Sale on Skin-Care—Here’s Everything I Want," 18 Jan. 2019 The natural function of this bug is to break down lactic acid, which is produced by the body during intense exercise and is known to lead to muscle fatigue and soreness. — Susan Scutti, CNN, "Could the poo of elite athletes provide an ingredient to improve physical performance?," 25 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lactic acid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for lactic acid
lactic acid
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of lactic acid
technical
: a chemical produced by the body in your muscles during exercise
See the full definition for lactic acid in the English Language Learners Dictionary
lactic acid
nounMedical Definition of lactic acid
: a hygroscopic organic acid C3H6O3 that is known in three optically isomeric forms:
a
or D-lactic acid \ ˈdē-​ 
\
: the dextrorotatory form present normally in blood and muscle tissue as a product of the anaerobic metabolism of glucose and glycogen
\
: 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 \ ˈel-​
\
: the levorotatory form obtained by biological fermentation of sucrose
\
: the levorotatory form obtained by biological fermentation of sucrose
c
or DL-lactic acid \ ˈdē-​ˈel-​
\
: 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
\
: 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
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