tar

¹tar

noun \ˈtär\

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

Examples of TAR

1. <a book about the adventurous lives of tars, skippers, and pirates of the 18th century>

Origin of TAR

Middle English terr, tarr, from Old English teoru; akin to Old English trēow tree — more at tree

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to TAR

Synonyms: gob, hearty, jack, jack-tar, mariner, navigator, salt, sea dog, seafarer, seaman, shipman, swab, swabbie (also swabby) [slang], sailor

Related Words: coxswain, crewman, deckhand, shipmate; able-bodied seaman, able seaman, lubber; powerboater, sailboater; lime-juicer [slang], limey [slang]

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Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

Rhymes with TAR

ar, are, bar, barre, car, char, czar, far, gar, gnar, guar, jar, Lar, mar, moire, noir, our, par, parr, Parr, R, Saar, scar, spar, SPAR, star, tahr, yare