tar

tar

tar¹ [tär]

n.

[ME terre < OE teru < PGmc * terw(i)a-, substance from trees < IE base * deru-, TREE]

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

vt.

tarred, tarring

to cover or smear with or as with tar

adj.

1. of or like tar

2. covered with tar; tarred

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☆ tar and feather

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

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tarred with the same brush or tarred with the same stick

having similar faults or obnoxious traits

tar² [tär]

n.

[< TAR(PAULIN)]

Informal a sailor