mortar

1 of 3

noun (1)

mor·​tar ˈmȯr-tər How to pronounce mortar (audio)
1
: a sturdy vessel in which material is pounded or rubbed with a pestle
crushed the seeds in a mortar
2
[Middle French mortier]
a
: a portable muzzle-loading weapon having a tube short in relation to its caliber (see caliber sense 2b) that is used to throw bombs at high angles
mortars fired at the enemy positions
b
: any of several similar firing devices

Illustration of mortar

Illustration of mortar
  • M mortar
  • P pestle

mortar

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a plastic building material (such as a mixture of cement, lime, or gypsum plaster with sand and water) that hardens and is used in masonry or plastering
mortarless adjective

mortar

3 of 3

verb

mortared; mortaring; mortars

transitive verb

: to plaster or make fast with mortar

Examples of mortar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
That space, which now has a brick and mortar location, stocks a diverse selection of reads curated from library sales and thrift stores. Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024 The process involves sourcing readily available ingredients, such as plants, tree sap, or stone, which are then burned to soot, melted, or ground into powders with a mortar and pestle. Zahra Hankir, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 Infrastructure has been devastated by the relentless pounding of mortar and rockets. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 Unexpected design details such as a mitered edge finger pulls, antique wooden mortars from India, and a reclaimed Chinese bench from an 18th-century barn fill the outdoor area. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024 Our brick, and mortar location largely runs itself day to day. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024 In May 2023, Andrii was in a trench in the Zaporizhzhia region, attempting to stand to reach for a drone, when a mortar exploded at close range. Natalie Keyssar, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 Archaeologists said the bricks were covered with mud mortar and finger grooves left in the structure give insight into building techniques from the time. Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2024 Using a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle, grind the mixture into a fine powder. Jing Gao, Saveur, 31 Jan. 2024
Verb
Their homes, mortared with mud and topped with straw, are vulnerable to rain. Xanthe Scharff, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mortar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English morter, from Old English mortere & Anglo-French mortier, from Latin mortarium

Noun (2)

Middle English morter, from Anglo-French morter, mortier, from Latin mortarium

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mortar was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near mortar

Cite this Entry

“Mortar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mortar. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mortar

1 of 2 noun
mor·​tar ˈmȯrt-ər How to pronounce mortar (audio)
1
: a strong deep bowl in which substances are pounded or crushed with a pestle
2
: a short muzzle-loading cannon used to fire shells at a low speed and at high angles

mortar

2 of 2 noun
: a building material made of lime and cement mixed with sand and water that is spread between bricks or stones so as to hold them together when it hardens
mortar verb

Medical Definition

mortar

noun
mor·​tar ˈmȯrt-ər How to pronounce mortar (audio)
: a strong vessel in which material is pounded or rubbed with a pestle

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