lactic acid

lactic acid   n.  A syrupy, water-soluble liquid, C3H6O3, produced in muscles as a result of anaerobic glucose metabolism, and present in sour milk, molasses, various fruits, and wines. A synthetic form of the compound is used in foods and beverages as a flavoring and preservative, in dyeing and textile printing, and in pharmaceuticals.

Main Entry: lactic acid
Function: noun
: a hygroscopic organic acid C₃H₆O₃ that is known in three optically isomeric forms: a or lactic acid /'el-/ : the dextrorotatory form present normally in blood and muscle tissue as a product of the anaerobic metabolism of glucose and glycogen b or lactic acid /'dE-/ : the levorotatory form obtained by biological fermentation of sucrose c or lactic acid /'dE-'el-/ : 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, intanning and dyeing, and in making esters for use as solvents and plasticizers

lactic acid n.
A syrupy, water-soluble liquid existing in three isomeric forms: one in muscle tissue and blood as a result of anaerobic glucose metabolism, a second in sour milk and wines, and a third used in foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.