tar Hear it!

tar1 definition

tar (tär)

noun

  1. a thick, sticky, brown to black liquid with a pungent odor, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood, coal, peat, shale, etc.: tars are composed of hydrocarbons and their derivatives, and are used for protecting and preserving surfaces, in making various organic compounds, etc.
  2. loosely any of the solids in smoke, as from tobacco

Etymology: ME terre < OE teru < PGmc *terw(i)a-, substance from trees < IE base *deru-, tree

transitive verb tarred, tarring tar′·ring

to cover or smear with or as with tar

adjective

  1. of or like tar
  2. covered with tar; tarred
tar Idioms

tar and feather

☆
to cover (a person) with tar and feathers as in punishment by mob action

tarred with the same brush

or tarred with the same stick
having similar faults or obnoxious traits
tar2 definition

tar (tär)

noun

Informal a sailor

Etymology: < tar(paulin)

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