mortar

1 of 3

noun (1)

mor·​tar ˈmȯr-tər 

1

: a sturdy vessel in which material is pounded or rubbed with a pestle

crushed the seeds in a mortar

2

[Middle French mortier]

a

: a portable muzzle-loading weapon having a tube short in relation to its caliber (see caliber sense 2b) that is used to throw bombs at high angles

mortars fired at the enemy positions

b

: any of several similar firing devices

Illustration of mortar

• M mortar
• P pestle

mortar

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a plastic building material (such as a mixture of cement, lime, or gypsum plaster with sand and water) that hardens and is used in masonry or plastering

mortarless adjective

mortar

3 of 3

verb

mortared; mortaring; mortars

transitive verb

: to plaster or make fast with mortar

Examples of mortar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Archaeologists also found amphorae storage jars which were used to ‘quench’ the lime used for plastering as well as to store other tools, from lead weights used to erect a perfectly vertical wall, to iron hoes to prepare mortar and work lime. —Reuters, NBC News, 25 Mar. 2024

Beyond the bricks and mortar, Continuum Club will be staffed by a team of experts and will use artificial intelligence to create an enhanced, 360-degree wellness experience for members. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2024

Russian reconnaissance drones continually fly overhead, directing artillery or mortar fire on the soldiers. —Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024

Factories spit out shells, mortar rounds, military vehicles, missiles and other items crucial to the war effort. —David L. Stern, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024

He's felt bullets whizzing by his head in Cambodia, and once escaped a hotel room in Sarajevo moments before a mortar attack reduced his bed to rubble. —Terry Gross, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024

Using a molcajete or mortar and pestle, grind the bones to a fine paste, then add them to the chochoyotes dough in step 6. —Obed Vallejo, Saveur, 28 Mar. 2024

Mash together a small glug of olive oil, half a dozen garlic cloves and a tablespoon of coarse salt with a mortar and pestle, blender or food processor. —Lucinda Scala Quinn, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024

The mortar includes lipids, such as ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids. —Lisa Desantis, Health, 22 Mar. 2024

Verb

Their homes, mortared with mud and topped with straw, are vulnerable to rain. —Xanthe Scharff, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English morter, from Old English mortere & Anglo-French mortier, from Latin mortarium

Noun (2)

Middle English morter, from Anglo-French morter, mortier, from Latin mortarium

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mortar

• brick-and-mortar
• bricks-and-mortar

Kids Definition

mortar

1 of 2 noun

mor·​tar ˈmȯrt-ər 

1

: a strong deep bowl in which substances are pounded or crushed with a pestle

2

: a short muzzle-loading cannon used to fire shells at a low speed and at high angles

mortar

2 of 2 noun

: a building material made of lime and cement mixed with sand and water that is spread between bricks or stones so as to hold them together when it hardens

mortar verb

Medical Definition

mortar

noun

mor·​tar ˈmȯrt-ər 

: a strong vessel in which material is pounded or rubbed with a pestle