Mortar

/ˈmɔːrtər/

Meaning & Definition

noun

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

The mason applied the mortar to the bricks to hold them together.

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

She used the mortar and pestle to grind the herbs into a fine powder.

A heavy, portable, and usually muzzle-loading cannon used to fire shells at high angles.

The soldiers set up a mortar to provide cover for their advancing troops.

verb

To plaster or cement with mortar.

They need to mortar the bricks properly to ensure the wall is sturdy.

Middle English, from Old French mortier, from Latin mortarium.

mortar and pestle

A set of tools used to grind and mix substances.

masonry

The craft of building with stone, brick, or concrete.

adhesive

A substance used for sticking objects or materials together.

A mortar attack.

The area was under mortar fire.

To put something together quickly.

We need to mortar this presentation before the deadline.