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 WebKelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 2 Aug. 2024
Like a brooding poet, Nebbiolo demands your attention, weaving tales of tar, roses, and wild cherries with each sip.
—Johnny Noakes, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2024
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 23 July 2024
Defense attorneys in multi-defendant cases often seek separate trials, arguing that otherwise one defendant could be tarred in the eyes of jurors by the misconduct of another.
—Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, 23 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for tar 
Noun
Showing illustrative, colorful scenes of Neanderthals fashioning tools with sticky tar, bitumen mortar in Mesopotamian structures, Chinese naphtha stoves, and eventually the US automotive industry, the work reveals the ways oil has permeated human production across cultures.
—Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 2 Aug. 2024
Like a brooding poet, Nebbiolo demands your attention, weaving tales of tar, roses, and wild cherries with each sip.
—Johnny Noakes, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2024
Verb
But these should not be allowed to tar or undermine legitimate criticisms.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 23 July 2024
Defense attorneys in multi-defendant cases often seek separate trials, arguing that otherwise one defendant could be tarred in the eyes of jurors by the misconduct of another.
—Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, 23 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for tar
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tar
Cite this Entry
“Tar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tar. Accessed 18 Aug. 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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