mortar

¹

[ mawr-ter ]

noun

1. a receptacle of hard material, having a bowl-shaped cavity in which substances are reduced to powder with a pestle.
2. any of various mechanical appliances in which substances are pounded or ground.
3. a cannon very short in proportion to its bore, for throwing shells at high angles.
4. some similar contrivance, as for throwing pyrotechnic bombs or a lifeline.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to attack with mortar fire or shells.

mortar

²

[ mawr-ter ]

noun

1. a mixture of lime or cement or a combination of both with sand and water, used as a bonding agent between bricks, stones, etc.
2. any of various materials or compounds for bonding together bricks, stones, etc.:

   Bitumen was used as a mortar.

verb (used with object)

1. to plaster or fix with mortar.

mortar

/ ˈmɔːtə /

noun

1. a mixture of cement or lime or both with sand and water, used as a bond between bricks or stones or as a covering on a wall
2. a muzzle-loading cannon having a short barrel and relatively wide bore that fires low-velocity shells in high trajectories over a short range
3. a similar device for firing lifelines, fireworks, etc
4. a vessel, usually bowl-shaped, in which substances are pulverized with a pestle
5. mining a cast-iron receptacle in which ore is crushed

verb

1. to join (bricks or stones) or cover (a wall) with mortar
2. to fire on with mortars
3. dialect.
   to trample (on)

Other Words From

• mortar·less adjective
• mortar·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mortar¹

before 1000; Middle English, Old English mortere and Old French mortier < Latin mortārium; mortar ¹( defs 3, 4 ) translation of French mortier < Latin, as above; -ar ²

Origin of mortar²

1250–1300; Middle English morter < Anglo-French; Old French mortier mortar ¹, hence the mixture produced in it

Word History and Origins

Origin of mortar¹

C13: from Latin mortārium basin in which mortar is mixed; in some senses, via Old French mortier substance mixed inside such a vessel

Idioms and Phrases

see bricks and mortar .

Example Sentences

They received the news that he had been killed by a mortar in Lyman three weeks ago.

From BBC

The targeted arms include 120-millimeter tank cartridges, 120-millimeter high-explosive mortar cartridges and 50 F-15IA aircraft, associated weapons and parts, as well as upgrade kits for F-15 aircraft.

From Los Angeles Times

He sat in an armchair in a destroyed building, covered in dust and debris, an arm apparently amputated by mortar fire.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think in order to successfully run a brick and mortar space anymore, you really have to distill down to what your identity is,” said Irvington Vinyl & Books owner Elysia Smith.

From Salon

Six were reportedly ambushed by Hezbollah fighters and another two were killed by mortar fire.

From BBC

Related Words

• seal