/ tɑː(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun [ U ]
1.
a thick black sticky liquid that becomes hard when cold. Tar is obtained from coal and is used especially in making roads.
2.
a substance similar to tar that is formed by burning tobacco :
low-tar cigarettes
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IDIOMS
see spoil verb
■ verb
( -rr- ) [ vn ] to cover sth with tar :
a tarred road
•
IDIOMS
- tar and feather sb
- be tarred with the same brush (as sb)
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English teru , teoru , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch teer , German Teer , and perhaps ultimately to tree .