Pronunciation: /tɑːr/

Definitions of tar

noun a thick, dark, sticky substance produced by the distillation of coal tar or wood tar

Example Sentences

A1 I stepped on a piece of tar and got it stuck to my shoe.

A2 The road was covered in sticky black tar.

B1 The workers were laying down fresh tar on the highway.

B2 The tar used in roofing is a sticky substance derived from coal.

C1 The ancient Egyptians used tar for embalming mummies.

C2 The ship's hull was coated with a layer of protective tar.

verb to cover or smear with tar

Example Sentences

A1 I tarred the roof to protect it from the rain.

A2 She tarred the driveway to make it look nicer.

B1 The workers are tarring the road to repair the surface.

B2 The sailors tarred the ropes to make them more durable.

C1 The artist tarred the canvas before painting to create a unique texture.

C2 The preservationists tarred the historic building to protect it from decay.

Examples of tar in a Sentence

formal The tar used in road construction is a sticky, black substance.

informal I accidentally stepped in some tar while working on the driveway.

slang Let's go grab some tar and feather that guy for what he did.

figurative The scandal left a tar-like stain on the politician's reputation.

Grammatical Forms of tar

past tense

tarred

plural

tars

comparative

tarrier

superlative

tarriest

present tense

tars

future tense

will tar

perfect tense

have tarred

continuous tense

is tarring

singular

tar

positive degree

tar

infinitive

to tar

gerund

tarring

participle

tarred

Origin and Evolution of tar

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'tar' is believed to have originated from the Old English word 'teoru' or 'teru', which was derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'terwą'.
Evolution of the word: Originally, 'tar' referred to a viscous substance derived from organic materials such as wood or coal. Over time, the word came to specifically refer to a dark, thick liquid used for various purposes such as waterproofing and sealing. Today, 'tar' is commonly associated with road construction and maintenance.