MORTAR


Meaning of MORTAR in English

n. & v.

--n.

1. a mixture of lime with cement, sand, and water, used in building to bond bricks or stones.

2 a short large-bore cannon for firing shells at high angles.

3 a contrivance for firing a lifeline or firework.

4 a vessel made of hard material, in which ingredients are pounded with a pestle.

--v.tr.

1. plaster or join with mortar.

2 attack or bombard with mortar shells.

Derivatives:

mortarless adj. (in sense 1). mortary adj. (in sense 1).

Etymology: ME f. AF morter, OF mortier f. L mortarium: partly from LG

Oxford English vocab.      Оксфордский английский словарь.