mortar
B2Formal, Technical, Military
Definition
Meaning
A short, smoothbore cannon that fires shells at high angles for short-range bombardment; a mixture of cement, sand, and water used to bind bricks or stones; a bowl in which substances are crushed with a pestle.
Something that binds or unites disparate elements (figuratively); the action or sound of mortar bombardment; the material or act of joining bricks.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A classic polysemous word with three distinct but connected core meanings: 1) Construction material, 2) Military weapon, 3) Kitchen/chemistry tool. The connection is the idea of 'binding' or 'pounding'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant meaning differences. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent. 'Mortarboard' (academic cap) is more common in UK formal contexts.
Connotations
In both, the military sense carries connotations of trench warfare, WWII, and modern artillery. The construction sense is neutral/technical.
Frequency
The construction sense is most frequent in general use, followed by military. The 'bowl' sense is less common outside specific contexts (pharmacy, cooking).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
mortar + NOUN (mortar shell, mortar bomb)VERB + mortar (lay, mix, fire, launch, pound with)mortar + PREP (mortar between bricks, mortar on target)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bricks and mortar (tangible property/assets)”
- “mortared in (sealed or trapped)”
- “pound the mortar (work diligently on fundamentals)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to physical retail stores ('bricks-and-mortar business') vs. online.
Academic
Used in history (military, architecture), chemistry, materials science, and archaeology.
Everyday
Most commonly understood as the stuff between bricks or as a military weapon in news reports.
Technical
Specific types in construction (lime mortar, hydraulic mortar). In military, specific calibres (81mm mortar).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The rebels continued to mortar the government positions.
- The old wall needs to be properly mortared.
American English
- Enemy forces mortared the forward base all night.
- We'll need to mortar these stones into place.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- (Rare as pure adjective; used in compounds) The mortar team took cover.
- A mortar bomb crater.
American English
- (Rare as pure adjective; used in compounds) The mortar attack was devastating.
- Mortar fire could be heard in the distance.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The builder used mortar to stick the bricks together.
- We need a pestle and mortar to make this spice paste.
- The old house's mortar was crumbling and needed repointing.
- News reports said the village was hit by mortar shells.
- The success of the alliance depended on the mortar of shared economic interests.
- He ground the seeds to a fine powder using a ceramic mortar and pestle.
- The battalion's mortar platoon provided essential indirect fire support during the advance.
- Lime mortar, used in historic buildings, is more permeable than modern cement-based mixes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MORTAR holding bricks together OR firing shells; both involve a thick, heavy substance (cement/explosive force) being placed in a container/tube.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORTAR AS BINDER/CONNECTOR (for relationships, societies, arguments). MORTAR AS POUNDING FORCE (for criticism, repeated attacks).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'morter' (non-existent).
- The military 'миномёт' is accurate.
- The kitchen tool 'ступка' is accurate.
- The construction material 'раствор' or 'цемент' is accurate, but 'mortar' is more specific than general 'цемент' (cement).
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'morter' is incorrect.
- Using 'mortar' to mean just 'cement' (it's a mixture).
- Confusing 'mortar' with 'howitzer' (different artillery types).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'bricks and mortar' primarily refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Cement is a powdered ingredient. Mortar is a workable paste made by mixing cement (or lime), sand, and water, used to bind building blocks.
Yes. In construction, it means 'to join or plaster with mortar'. In a military context, it means 'to attack or bombard with a mortar'.
Mortars are typically shorter, fire shells at a very high angle (lobbed trajectory), and have a shorter range. Cannons have longer barrels and a flatter trajectory.
It's the square academic cap worn during graduation ceremonies. The name comes from its resemblance to the flat board (hawk) used by bricklayers to hold mortar.