noun a strong vessel, typically made of ceramic or stone, used for mixing and holding substances such as cement or medicine
verb to bind or plaster with mortar
In cooking, mortar and pestle are used to grind and mix ingredients together, such as spices, herbs, and garlic.
In construction, mortar is used as a binding material to hold bricks or stones together in masonry work.
In chemistry, mortar and pestle are used for grinding and mixing chemicals in laboratory experiments.
In archaeology, mortars are used to grind and process materials such as pigments or grains in ancient societies.
In pharmacy, mortar and pestle are used to crush and mix ingredients for compounding medications.
In herbalism, mortar and pestle are used to grind herbs and plants for making herbal remedies and preparations.
In the context of writing, 'mortar' may be used metaphorically to refer to the binding element that holds a piece of writing together, such as transitions between paragraphs or sentences.
Architects use mortar as a building material to bind bricks or stones together in construction projects, such as building walls or structures.
Construction workers use mortar to lay bricks or stones in a precise and secure manner when building walls, paths, or other structures.
Historians may refer to 'mortar' when discussing ancient construction techniques or the use of mortar in historical buildings.