lactic acid

lactic acid

noun

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 b or L–lactic acid \ˈel-\ : 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