tar
B1Informal, technical (chemistry/construction), nautical (historical/slang)
Definition
Meaning
A dark, thick, sticky substance distilled from wood or coal, used for waterproofing and surfacing roads.
Can refer to a sailor (informal), a chemical substance, or a byproduct of tobacco smoke. As a verb, it means to cover with tar.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun primarily denotes the substance; the 'sailor' meaning is dated and informal. As a verb, it often appears in the passive ('to be tarred'), particularly in the idiom 'tarred with the same brush.'
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the substance meaning equally. The 'sailor' slang (e.g., 'Jack Tar') is more common in British historical contexts. The idiom 'tar and feather' is used historically in both varieties.
Connotations
In both, 'tar' can connote stickiness, mess, and difficulty of removal. It has negative associations in contexts like 'tar sands' (environmental impact) and 'tar' in lungs (from smoking).
Frequency
The noun meaning as a substance is of similar, moderate frequency. The slang for 'sailor' is very low frequency and archaic in modern use.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to tar somethingto be tarred with somethingto tar and feather someoneVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “tarred with the same brush”
- “tar and feather”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in industries like construction ('tar-based roofing') or energy ('oil sands/tar sands').
Academic
Used in chemistry ('coal tar derivatives'), environmental science ('tar pollution'), and historical studies.
Everyday
Most common for discussing roadworks, roofing repairs, or removing sticky substances from clothes/cars.
Technical
Specific to road construction, organic chemistry, and tobacco research ('tar content in cigarettes').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They plan to tar the driveway next week.
- He didn't want to be tarred as a troublemaker.
American English
- The crew will tar the roof before the rainy season.
- Politicians are often tarred with broad criticisms.
adverb
British English
- N/A – 'tar' is not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A – 'tar' is not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The tar-like substance was hard to scrub off.
- He had tar-stained hands from the repair work.
American English
- The road had a fresh tar smell after the rain.
- Avoid the tar residue on the pavement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The road is black with tar.
- My shoes got sticky with tar.
- They used hot tar to fix the hole in the roof.
- It's difficult to remove tar from clothing.
- The environmental impact of extracting oil from tar sands is significant.
- He was unfairly tarred with the same brush as the protesters.
- Coal tar, a byproduct of coke production, is a source of many organic compounds.
- The historical practice of tarring and feathering was a form of public humiliation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TARred road: Thick, Asphalt-like, and Rugged.
Conceptual Metaphor
STICKINESS IS ENTANGLEMENT / GUILT IS A STAIN (e.g., 'tarred with the same brush').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'дар' (gift). The Russian 'смола' (pitch, resin) is a closer match, but 'tar' is often more specifically 'дёготь' or 'асфальт' depending on context. The slang 'матрос' (sailor) is an archaic equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tar' as a countable noun incorrectly ('a tar' – usually uncountable). Confusing 'tar' (substance) with 'tart' (pastry/person).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'tarred with the same brush' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a substance, 'tar' is primarily uncountable (e.g., 'some tar', 'a lot of tar'). You can use countable forms when referring to types (e.g., 'different tars') but this is less common.
Technically, 'tar' is derived from organic materials like wood or coal. 'Bitumen' is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon mix. 'Asphalt' is a mixture of bitumen and aggregates used for paving. In casual US speech, 'asphalt' and 'tar' are often used interchangeably for road surfaces.
Not inherently offensive, but it is dated, informal, and rarely used in modern English. It has a historical or literary flavour.
Common advice involves using oils (like baby oil or cooking oil) to dissolve the tar, then washing with soap. For fabrics, specialist cleaning solvents may be needed. Always test on a small area first.