Tar is a thick, dark, sticky liquid made from coal, wood, or petroleum. It looks like melted black glue and is mostly used to seal or protect things from water and damage.
In everyday life, people see tar on freshly paved roads—those black patches that smell strong on hot days. Roofers brush tar onto roofs to stop leaks, and sailors have long used it to waterproof boats and ropes. Some even say “tar and feather” as a colorful way to talk about harsh punishment from history.
Meaning & Usage Examples
1. “The city workers poured hot tar to fix the cracks in the street.”
2. “We sealed the shed roof with tar so rain wouldn’t drip inside.”
3. “That old dock post is coated in tar to keep the water from rotting the wood.”
Context / Common Use
Tar shows up mostly in construction and maintenance. If you smell a sharp, oily scent near roadwork or see shiny black layers on a flat roof, you’re looking at tar. It’s also the root in “tarred road,” another name for asphalt pavement.
Is tar the same as asphalt?
Almost. Asphalt is a mix of tar-like binder and small stones; tar is just the sticky black binder itself.
Is tar safe to touch?
Not really. When hot, it can burn skin. Even cold tar is messy and hard to wash off, so gloves are smart.
Does tar come only from coal?
No. It can be made from coal, wood, or petroleum, but the end result is always that same dark, gooey sealant.
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