tar

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tar1 / tär/ • n. a dark, thick, flammable liquid distilled from wood or coal, consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons, resins, alcohols, and other compounds. It is used in roadmaking and for coating and preserving timber. ∎  a similar substance formed by burning tobacco or other material: [in comb.] low-tar cigarettes. • v. (tarred, tar·ring) [tr.] [usu. as adj.] (tarred) cover (something) with tar: a newly tarred road.PHRASES: beat (or whale) the tar out of inf. beat or thrash severely.tar and feather smear with tar and then cover with feathers as a punishment.tar people with the same brush consider specified people to have the same faults.tar2 • n. inf., dated a sailor.

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