tare

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈter 

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

tare

2 of 3

noun (2)

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

: counterweight

tare

3 of 3

verb

tared; taring

transitive verb

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

Place your bowl on top of the scale and tare it before putting all the ground meat into the bowl.

—Nik Pugmire

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

Noun

These bite-size marvels combine unagi, cream cheese, and potato inside their crisp shells, which are glazed with sweet-tangy tare sauce. — John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Combined with soy sauce and sake, mirin makes a silky tare (seasoning base) for ramen or, when reduced until syrupy, a lip-smacking teriyaki sauce. — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026

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

Our pros could quickly turn it off, tare it and switch between units of measurement. — Eva Bleyer, Good Housekeeping, 22 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English; probably akin to Middle Dutch tarwe wheat

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Old Italian tara, from Arabic ṭarḥa, literally, that which is removed

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

tare

noun

ˈta(ə)r, 

ˈte(ə)r

: a weed of grain fields especially of biblical times

Medical Definition

tare

1 of 2 noun

ˈta(ə)r, ˈte(ə)r 

1

: 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