mortar

mor-tar · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A mixture of cement, sand, and water used in building to bond bricks or stones together.

  2. 2.

    A short, wide cannon used to fire shells at high angles.

  3. 3.

    A bowl-shaped vessel in which substances are ground or crushed with a pestle.

Forms

plural: mortars

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    mortar and pestle — A set of tools used to grind and crush substances
  • •
    brick and mortar — Traditional physical retail stores, as opposed to online businesses

Related words

See also: cannon, cement, pestle
Synonyms: cement, grout, plaster

Etymology

From Latin mortarium ("a vessel for pounding, mortar for building"). The Latin term is of uncertain origin but possibly related to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "to rub" or "to pound."