tatar
C1Formal (dental, historical/ethnic); Informal (describing a person); Neutral (culinary).
Definition
Meaning
A hard, yellowish deposit on teeth formed from plaque and minerals in saliva; also, a sauce or a fierce, intimidating person.
Refers to 1) dental calculus (tartar), 2) a creamy sauce often with capers and herbs (tartare sauce), 3) a harsh, feared person, especially a strict woman (a tartar), and 4) a historical/ethnic term for Turkic peoples (Tatar), now considered dated or potentially offensive in some contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is a homograph. 'Tartar' (dental, sauce, person) is most common. 'Tatar' (historical/ethnic) is typically capitalized and its use as an ethnic term outside specific historical contexts is largely replaced by more specific demonyms (e.g., Crimean Tatar). The two spellings are often used interchangeably, but 'Tatar' for the ethnic group is more precise.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'tartar' for the sauce is commonly called 'tartare sauce'. In the US, it's more often 'tartar sauce'. The phrase 'cream of tartar' (a cooking ingredient) is identical. The use of 'tartar/Tatar' for historical ethnic groups shows no major regional difference.
Connotations
When describing a person ('she's a real tartar'), it carries the same negative connotation of being sharp-tongued, severe, and domineering in both dialects.
Frequency
The culinary and dental senses are moderately common in both. The sense of a fearsome person is less frequent and somewhat old-fashioned. The historical/ethnic term is low-frequency outside specific contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to have tartar on one's teethto be a bit of a tartarto serve with tartar sauceto descend from the TatarsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cream of tartar (specific ingredient, not an idiom)”
- “Tartar fever (obsolete, historical term for syphilis)”
- “to meet one's Tartar (archaic: to meet one's match)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in historical contexts (e.g., 'the Mongol and Tatar invasions'), dental literature ('supragingival tartar'), or culinary studies.
Everyday
Most common for dental hygiene ('I need to get the tartar scraped off') and food ('fish and chips with tartar sauce'). The personal descriptor is rarer.
Technical
Standard term in dentistry for mineralized dental plaque. A specific compound in cooking (potassium bitartrate).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A (not standardly used as a verb).
American English
- N/A (not standardly used as a verb).
adverb
British English
- N/A (not standardly used as an adverb).
American English
- N/A (not standardly used as an adverb).
adjective
British English
- The hygienist performed a thorough tartar removal.
- He ordered the haddock with a side of tartare sauce.
American English
- Use a toothpaste for tartar control.
- The cod fillets were served with tartar sauce.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I don't like tartar sauce on my fish.
- The dentist cleans the tartar.
- Too much tartar on your teeth can cause gum disease.
- My old headmistress was a real tartar; everyone was scared of her.
- Despite regular brushing, some tartar buildup is inevitable and requires professional scaling.
- The recipe calls for a pinch of cream of tartar to stabilize the egg whites.
- Historians debate the long-term impact of the Tatar invasions on Russian state development.
- Her reputation as a tartar in the boardroom belied a surprising generosity in private.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a TART with a TAR-like, hard substance stuck to it, being scolded by a TARTAR (a fierce person) for not brushing.
Conceptual Metaphor
HARSHNESS/AGGRESSION IS TARTAR (e.g., 'her tongue was sharp as tartar'); HARDENED NEGATIVITY IS TARTAR (e.g., 'prejudice had formed a tartar on his thinking').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'татарин' as 'Tartar' in modern English contexts; use more specific terms like 'Crimean Tatar' or historical phrasing.
- The word 'tartar' in English is not inherently pejorative when referring to dental or culinary items, unlike potential connotations of the ethnic term.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling 'tartar sauce' as 'tarter sauce'.
- Using 'Tartar' (capitalized) for the sauce.
- Assuming the ethnic term 'Tatar' is common general knowledge.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'tartar' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth. Tartar (or calculus) is hardened plaque that has mineralised. You can remove plaque at home, but tartar requires professional dental cleaning.
Yes, it can be. It is a critical term meaning a harsh, bad-tempered, or domineering person, especially a woman. It is considered old-fashioned and pejorative.
Modern scholarly and sensitive usage prefers 'Tatar', capitalised, for the ethnic group (e.g., Volga Tatars). 'Tartar' is an older European spelling with potential derogatory historical connotations and is best avoided for contemporary ethnic reference.
It is a common name for potassium bitartrate, a byproduct of winemaking. It is used in baking as a stabilising agent (e.g., in baking powder, meringues) and to prevent sugar syrups from crystallising.