“Tar” is a black, sticky substance made from coal, wood, or petroleum. It’s thick like syrup and hardens when it cools.
In everyday life, people see tar on freshly paved roads or when roofers seal shingles. You’ll also hear smokers joke about “tar” coating their lungs, and sailors in old movies called each other “old tar” because ship ropes were once soaked in the stuff.
Meaning & Usage Examples
- Road crews spread hot tar before laying asphalt.
- “Low-tar” cigarettes claim to reduce the gunk left in your lungs.
- After the beach, you might say, “I’ve got tar on my feet from the pier.”
Context / Common Use
Most of the time, when someone mentions tar, they’re talking about road work or health warnings on cigarette packs. Occasionally, it pops up in phrases like “tar and feather” or as a nickname among old sailors.
Is tar the same as asphalt?
No. Tar is just the sticky binder; asphalt is tar mixed with gravel and sand.
Can you clean tar off skin?
Yes. A little cooking oil or rubbing alcohol loosens it so you can wipe it away.
Leave a Reply