What does tar mean?
Tar is a thick, black, sticky material made from the destructive distillation of wood, petroleum, or other organic substances. It has traditionally been used to waterproof roofs, boats, tools, and other objects, and it can also be found in petroleum refining residues and in materials such as wood tar. As a verb, tar means to coat or seal something with this substance. In modern English, the word can also evoke tar pits, road surfaces, roofing, and the dark residue associated with industrial or environmental damage. Although tar is often used interchangeably with pitch, pitch generally refers to a more concentrated or viscous substance. The word also has an archaic literary sense for a sailor, probably because sailors' clothes and skin were traditionally smeared with tar for protection. Its long history as a waterproofing material makes it especially vivid in descriptions of ships, old buildings, and traditional crafts.
A thick, black, sticky substance obtained from wood, petroleum, or similar organic material, traditionally used for coating and waterproofing.
"The repairman spread warm tar over a crack in the roof."
Usually uncountable when referring to the substance.
To cover or coat something with tar.
"They tarred the roof before the winter storms arrived."
The substance is normally uncountable; the plural 'tars' is chiefly used for sailors in archaic or literary contexts.
"The story follows the adventures of several old tars at sea."
Long before waterproof paint, shipbuilders used tar to seal the seams of wooden vessels.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tar come from?
The English word descends through Middle English from Old English tera, a Germanic word meaning bitumen or pitch. Related forms survive in German Teer, Dutch teer, and Scandinavian words such as Swedish tjära. Its historical use in shipbuilding and construction shaped its associations with waterproofing, protection, and the rough materials of working life.
Related word forms
How tar is actually used
When referring to the substance, tar is usually an uncountable noun. The countable sense meaning a sailor is mainly literary or archaic, while the verb is common in practical and historical contexts involving waterproofing or repair.
Easily confused with tar
Tar is a sticky substance used for coating or sealing, whereas tare is the weight of an empty container or the weight of the packaging that is excluded from a shipment.
Tar generally refers to a broader range of thick, dark substances from wood or petroleum, while pitch is often a more concentrated, viscous form, especially distilled wood pitch.