1
a
: the seed of a vetch
b
: any of several vetches (especially Vicia sativa and V. hirsuta)
2
: a weed of grain fields especially of biblical times that is usually held to be the darnel
3
tares plural
: an undesirable element
1
: a deduction from the gross weight of a substance and its container made in allowance for the weight of the container
also
: the weight of the container
2
tared; taring
1
: to ascertain or mark the tare of (see tare entry 2 sense 1)
especially
: to weigh so as to determine the tare
a tared vessel
2
: to adjust (a scale on which an empty container has been placed) so as to reduce the displayed weight to zero
Balances are taken for granted now, and many tare themselves—among other features. Yet it's still important to remember the basics for accurate use of this most fundamental lab instrument.—
Chemistry
Chemistry
Did you know?
Tare came to English by way of Middle French from the Old Italian term tara, which is itself from the Arabic word ṭarḥa, meaning "that which is removed." One of the first known written records of the word tare in English is found in the naval inventories of Britain's King Henry VII. The record shows two barrels of gunpowder weighing, "besides the tare," 500 pounds. When used of vehicles, tare weight refers to a vehicle's weight exclusive of any load. The term tare is closely tied to net weight, which is defined as "weight excluding all tare."
Examples of tare in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lisa Shames, Chicago Tribune, 25 Nov. 2024
Subtract the tare weight from the full weight.
—Washington Post, 8 June 2021
For example, some scales are able to tell you heart rate, the weather forecast, or precisely measure infants and young children with tare buttons.
—Caroline Thomason, Health, 6 Feb. 2023
Each bag also has a little tag announcing its tare weight so that I don’t get charged extra during checkout.
—Urmila Ramakrishnan, Bon Appétit, 28 July 2022
In most stores, cashiers enter the tare before weighing the item.
—Outside Online, 7 Mar. 2019
Many scales are now self-calibrated and offer a tare feature to zero the scale before stepping on it—both of which help keep the scale accurate long term.
—Caroline Thomason, Health, 6 Feb. 2023
The most useful thing is the inclusion of tare weights listed prominently on it, so your cashier knows what to charge.
—Outside Online, 7 Mar. 2019
Nasha Smith, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The menu is a nice balance between tradition and innovation, with beautifully plated sashimi, intricate tasting menus, and luxe bites like unagi foie (freshwater eel, foie gras, and huckleberry tare) and negi toro (fatty tuna, chives, and soy).
—Jenn Rice, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
If the cup’s on a level surface, the scale on its bottom will tare itself out to 0.0 grams.
—Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024
Place your bowl on top of the scale and tare it before putting all the ground meat into the bowl.
—Nik Pugmire, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2021
Our pros could quickly turn it off, tare it and switch between units of measurement.
—Eva Bleyer, Good Housekeeping, 22 Aug. 2022
Using a kitchen scale makes this easy: set your bowl on the scale and tare it (reset the scale to zero).
—Nik Pugmire, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Crispy octopus glazed with tare was on the menu at the game.
—Lisa Shames, Chicago Tribune, 25 Nov. 2024
Subtract the tare weight from the full weight.
—Washington Post, 8 June 2021
For example, some scales are able to tell you heart rate, the weather forecast, or precisely measure infants and young children with tare buttons.
—Caroline Thomason, Health, 6 Feb. 2023
Each bag also has a little tag announcing its tare weight so that I don’t get charged extra during checkout.
—Urmila Ramakrishnan, Bon Appétit, 28 July 2022
In most stores, cashiers enter the tare before weighing the item.
—Outside Online, 7 Mar. 2019
Many scales are now self-calibrated and offer a tare feature to zero the scale before stepping on it—both of which help keep the scale accurate long term.
—Caroline Thomason, Health, 6 Feb. 2023
The most useful thing is the inclusion of tare weights listed prominently on it, so your cashier knows what to charge.
—Outside Online, 7 Mar. 2019
Verb
Another option, Shoyu Ramen, features egg noodles paired with roasted pork, bamboo, bean sprouts, scallions, wood ear mushrooms, and soy sauce tare.
—Nasha Smith, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The menu is a nice balance between tradition and innovation, with beautifully plated sashimi, intricate tasting menus, and luxe bites like unagi foie (freshwater eel, foie gras, and huckleberry tare) and negi toro (fatty tuna, chives, and soy).
—Jenn Rice, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
If the cup’s on a level surface, the scale on its bottom will tare itself out to 0.0 grams.
—Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024
Place your bowl on top of the scale and tare it before putting all the ground meat into the bowl.
—Nik Pugmire, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2021
Our pros could quickly turn it off, tare it and switch between units of measurement.
—Eva Bleyer, Good Housekeeping, 22 Aug. 2022
Using a kitchen scale makes this easy: set your bowl on the scale and tare it (reset the scale to zero).
—Nik Pugmire, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Tare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tare. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
tare
1 of 2 noun1
: a deduction from the gross weight of a substance and its container made in allowance for the weight of the container
2
: an empty vessel that is similar in physical properties to a weighing container and that is used as a counterbalance to compensate for changes in the weight of the weighing container due to changes in environmental conditions (as temperature or moisture)
tare
2 of 2 transitive verb
tared; taring
: to ascertain or mark the tare of
especially
: to weigh so as to determine the tare
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share