First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1tar
noun \ˈtär\
: a very thick, black, sticky liquid made from coal that becomes hard when it cools and that is used especially for road surfaces
: a sticky substance that is formed by burning tobacco
Full Definition of TAR
1
a : a dark brown or black bituminous usually odorous viscous liquid obtained by destructive distillation of organic material (as wood, coal, or peat) b : a substance in some respects resembling tar; especially : a condensable residue present in smoke from burning tobacco that contains combustion by-products (as resins, acids, phenols, and essential oils)
2
[short for tarpaulin] : sailor
See tar defined for English-language learners
See tar defined for kids
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Origin of TAR
Middle English terr, tarr, from Old English teoru; akin to Old English trēow tree — more at tree
Related to TAR
Other Chemical Engineering Terms
2tar
transitive verb
tarredtar·ring
Definition of TAR
1
: to cover with tar
2
: to defile as if with tar <least tarred by the scandal — Newsweek>
— tar and feather
: to smear (a person) with tar and cover with feathers as a punishment or indignity
— tar with the same brush
: to mark or stain with the same fault or characteristic
First Known Use of TAR
13th century
3tar
transitive verb \ˈtär\
tarredtar·ringtars or tarres
Definition of TAR
: to urge to action —usually used with on
Variants of TAR
tar or tarre \ˈtär\
Origin of TAR
Middle English terren, tarren, from Old English tyrwan
First Known Use: before 12th century
Tar
geographical name \ˈtär\
Definition of TAR
river 215 miles (346 kilometers) NE North Carolina — see pamlico
TAR Defined for Kids
1tar
noun \ˈtär\
Definition of TAR for Kids
1
: a thick dark sticky liquid made from wood, coal, or peat
2
: a substance (as one formed by burning tobacco) that resembles tar
2tar
verb
tarredtar·ring
Definition of TAR for Kids
: to cover with or as if with tar
Medical Dictionary
tar
noun \ˈtär\
Medical Definition of TAR
1
: any of various dark brown or black bituminous usually odorous viscous liquids obtained by destructive distillation of organic material (as wood, coal, or peat); especially : one used medicinally (as to treat skin diseases)—see coal tar, juniper tar, pine tar
2
: a substance in some respects resembling tar; especially : a condensable residue present in smoke from burning tobacco that contains combustion by-products (as resins, acids, phenols, and essential oils)
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