coal tar

noun

1. a thick, black, viscid liquid formed during the distillation of coal, that upon further distillation yields compounds, as benzene, anthracene, and phenol, from which are derived a large number of dyes, drugs, and other synthetic compounds, and that yields a final residuum coal-tar pitch, which is used chiefly in making pavements.

coal tar

noun

1. a black tar, produced by the distillation of bituminous coal, that can be further distilled to yield benzene, toluene, xylene, anthracene, phenol, etc

coal tar

1. A thick, sticky, black liquid obtained through the destructive distillation (heating in the absence of air) of coal. It is used as a source of many organic compounds, such as benzene, naphthalene, and phenols, which are used in dyes, drugs, and other compounds.

Other Words From

• coal-tar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of coal tar¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Derived from coal tar, these chemical dyes did not have the batch-to-batch variability of botanical dyes upon which the world had historically relied, opening up a whole new world of color to Ridgway and others, Ellis says.

From National Geographic

A predecessor had operated an unclean gas plant around a century ago, the company said, and had in the process dumped a material akin to coal tar into the river, trapping artifacts in the sediment.

From Washington Times

Coal tar and creosote wastes have also migrated through the soil and continue to seep up from the sediments near the outfall.

From Washington Post

The gas plant generated large volumes of coal tar and creosote wastes from its process of turning low-grade coal into gas for street lamps and homes.

From Washington Post

Coal tar and creosote pollution of the river is an imminent and substantial danger to the environment and human health, and it must end.

From Washington Post