tar
nounverbnounverbnounnounnounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//tɑː//
- United States//tɑɹ//
- United States/[tʰɑɻ]/
- United States/[tʰɑɹ]/
A black, oil, sticky, viscous substance, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons derived from organic materials such as wood, peat, or coal. Coal tar.
noun
- 1
A black, oil, sticky, viscous substance, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons derived from organic materials such as wood, peat, or coal. Coal tar.
- 2
A black, oil, sticky, viscous substance, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons derived from organic materials such as wood, peat, or coal. (often typeset "tar" in USA) A solid residual byproduct of tobacco smoke.
- 3
datedA sailor (because of the traditional tarpaulin clothes).
Shines in all climates like a star; In senates bold, and fierce in war; A land commander, and a tar.
a ruminating tar was[…]adorning [the wooden settle] with his jack-knife,[…]trying his hand at a ship under full sail.
If there's one man that I admire, that man's a British tar.
- 4
Variant of black tar heroinEllipsis of black tar heroin.
Etymology
PIE word *dóru From Middle English ter, terr, tarr, from Old English teoru, from Proto-West Germanic *teru, from Proto-Germanic *terwą, from Proto-Indo-European *derwo-, from *dóru (“tree”). See also Saterland Frisian Taar, West Frisian tarre, tar, Dutch teer, German Teer; also Welsh derw (“oaks”), Lithuanian dervà (“pinewood, resin”), Russian де́рево (dérevo, “tree”), Bulgarian дърво́ (dărvó, “tree”). More at tree.
verb
- 1
To coat with tar.
- 2
To besmirch.
The allegations tarred his name, even though he was found innocent.
Dr. Sign: In fact, maybe you think I should get credit, but if I do, Dr. Frendall will be scorned. You know why Dr. Ellsworth: Yes, I know. Your critics will tar him with the same brush as you.
noun
- 1
A program for archiving files, common on Unix systems.
- 2
A file produced by such a program.
Etymology
Abbreviation of tape archive.
verb
- 1
To create a tar archive.
noun
- 1
A Persian long-necked, waisted string instrument, shared by many cultures and countries in the Middle East and the Caucasus.
Etymology
Borrowed from Persian تار (târ). Doublet of tantra.
noun
- 1
A single-headed round frame drum originating in North Africa and the Middle East.
Etymology
Borrowed from Arabic طار (ṭār).
noun
- 1
Variant of taraAlternative form of tara (“Indian coin”).
Forms
- plural
- tars
- past tense
- tarred
- past participle
- tarred
- present participle
- tarring
- third person singular
- tars
tar · A black, oil, sticky, viscous substance, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons derived from organic materials such as wood, peat, or coal. Coal tar.
Tar · A village in Hungary.tara · Goodbye.Tara · An Irish place name, associated with the Hill of Tara, seat…