tar
part of speech
noun (tar, uncountable); verb (tar, tars, tarred, tarring)
meaning for a pupil
1) Tar is a thick, black, sticky liquid made from coal, wood or oil, which goes hard when it cools. tree →
2) Tar is used to make roads, to waterproof roofs and boats. tree →
3) Tar is also the harmful sticky stuff in cigarette smoke that damages the lungs. tree →
4) To tar something is to cover it with tar. tree →
sense in the lessons
In science and health lessons, tar in cigarette smoke clogs and damages lungs. In everyday life, roads are made of tar mixed with stones (tarmac, asphalt). At the beach, sticky lumps of tar can stick to feet. In history, sailors tarred ropes and ships. Phrases: «tar road», «tarred and feathered» (an old cruel punishment).
examples
- The workers spread hot tar on the road. tree →
- I got tar on my feet at the beach. tree →
- Smoking puts tar into your lungs. tree →
- The roof was covered with tar to keep the rain out. tree →
- Long ago, sailors were called «Jack Tars» because of the tar on their clothes. tree →
- The road was tarred last summer. tree →
- Hot tar can burn your skin, so keep away. tree →
- ‘Oh, don’t tar and feather me, please! tree →
note
Uncountable noun; the verb doubles the r: «tarred», «tarring». Do not confuse with «tear» or «star». In South Africa and Australia, «tar» can mean a sealed road.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «tar» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.