tar

verb

ˈtär 

variants or tarre

tarred; tarring; tars or tarres

transitive verb

: to urge to action

—usually used with on

Examples of tar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kreutzer cuts clunkily and repeatedly between the ongoing crises in two households, presumably implying that the men in these women’s lives are all tarred with the same patriarchal brush. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 15 May 2026

Public perceptions The two most damaging nuclear disasters in history – Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011 – each tarred the technology in the eyes of the public, leading politicians to decommission projects. —Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 4 May 2026

Today’s Democratic moderates will forever be tarred with the left’s extremism and its willingness to sacrifice the interests of the country on the altar of political expediency. —Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026

It was tarred, feathered and run out of town on a Brightline rail. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English terren, tarren, from Old English tyrwan

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tar

• coal tar
• Jack-tar
• juniper tar
• pine tar
• tar and feather
• tar baby
• tar paper
• tar pit
• tar sand
• tar with the same brush

Rhymes for tar

• ar
• are
• bar
• barr
• car
• carr
• char
• charr
• czar
• far
• farre
• haar

Kids Definition

tar

1 of 2 noun

ˈtär 

1

a

: a dark usually thick sticky liquid obtained by distilling wood, coal, or peat

b

: a substance that resembles tar

especially : a sticky substance that is formed by burning tobacco

2

: sailor

tarlike

-ˌlīk

adjective

tar

2 of 2 verb

tarred; tarring

: to smear with or as if with tar

Medical Definition

tar

noun

ˈtär 

1

: any of various dark brown or black bituminous usually odorous viscous liquids obtained by destructive distillation of organic material (as wood, coal, or peat)

especially : one used medicinally (as to treat skin diseases) see coal tar, juniper tar, pine tar

2

: 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)