tar
tar
UK[tɑː]US[tɑːr]
n
A thick, black, sticky liquid obtained from coal or wood, used for making roads, preserving wood, etc.
n
A similar substance formed by burning tobacco or other organic material.
v
To cover something with tar.
Etymology
The word 'tar' originates from the Old English term 'teoru' or 'teru', which referred to the viscous, dark substance. This Old English word is traced back to the Proto-Germanic 'terwą', also meaning tar or resin. The term is likely derived from the Proto-Indo-European root 'deru-' or 'dreu-', meaning 'tree' or 'wood', which is the source material for producing wood tar. Thus, the word's history directly connects the substance to its organic, arboreal origins, evolving from a general term for tree resin to the specific, processed material we know today.
Analysis
The word 'tar' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English form.
Examples
The road crew spread hot tar to repair the potholes.
Cigarette tar is a major cause of health problems.
They decided to tar the wooden fence to protect it from the weather.