1
a
: a dark brown or black bituminous usually odorous viscous liquid obtained by destructive distillation of organic material (such as wood, coal, or peat)
b
: a substance in some respects resembling tar
especially
: a condensable residue present in smoke from burning tobacco that contains combustion by-products (such as resins, acids, phenols, and essential oils)
2
[short for tarpaulin]
: sailor
tarred; tarring
1
: to cover with tar
2
: to defile as if with tar
least tarred by the scandal—
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Examples of tar in a Sentence
Noun
a book about the adventurous lives of tars, skippers, and pirates of the 18th century
Recent Examples on the Web
Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024
Rather than sticking rigidly to what had always been done, our openness to unconventional ideas from outside experts led us to solutions like using liquid nitrogen to freeze off paint layers and bicarbonate of soda to remove tar coatings.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2024
Hank Cardello, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
Bitcoin has long been tarred as an artifact of the anarcho-capitalist fringe.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tar 
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Noun
On the exterior, the house is characterized by the use of tar and gravel roofing.
—Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024
Rather than sticking rigidly to what had always been done, our openness to unconventional ideas from outside experts led us to solutions like using liquid nitrogen to freeze off paint layers and bicarbonate of soda to remove tar coatings.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
An approach that focuses on food categories that consumers with the highest levels of overweight and obesity eat and drink the most will be more effective – instead of tarring all treats with the same brush.
—Hank Cardello, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
Bitcoin has long been tarred as an artifact of the anarcho-capitalist fringe.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tar
Dictionary Entries Near tar
Cite this Entry
“Tar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tar. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tar
2 of 2 verb
tarred; tarring
: to smear with or as if with tar
Medical Definition
tar
noun1
: 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)
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