1. pertaining to the plant valerian; pertaining to valeric acid, of a sedative extracted from the valerian plant. valericva*leric , a. (chem.) valerianic; specifically, designating any one of three metameric acids, of which the typical one (called also inactive valeric acid), c4h9co2h, is obtained from valerian root and other sources, as a corrosive, mobile, oily liquid, having a strong acid taste, and an odor of old cheese