mor
tar
Plural
mortars
1
a short-barreled, muzzle-loaded artillery piece that fires explosive shells at high angles for close-range support
- The soldiers set up a mortar to provide fire support for advancing infantry units.
- Mortars are portable artillery pieces capable of firing high-explosive shells over short to medium distances.
- The enemy positions were bombarded with mortar fire, causing significant damage to their defenses.
- The mortar team adjusted their aim to accurately target enemy positions hidden behind cover.
- The platoon relied on mortar support to suppress enemy fire and facilitate their advance during the assault.
Synonyms:
2
a mixture, typically of sand, lime, or cement, used to bond masonry units together or to coat walls
Mortar is a soft mixture made from materials like sand, water, and a binder such as cement or lime. It is used to hold bricks, stones, or other building materials together, filling gaps and creating a strong, stable bond. Once it dries and hardens, it also provides additional strength to the structure and helps protect against water and air penetration. Mortar is commonly used in walls, foundations, and other masonry work.
- The mason spread mortar between the bricks.
- Fresh mortar was applied to seal gaps in the wall.
- The building's foundation was reinforced with strong mortar.
- Old mortar crumbled and needed to be replaced.
- Workers smoothed the mortar over the stone surface.
3
a bowl for crushing and blending materials with a pestle
- She crushed the spices in a small mortar with a wooden pestle.
- Pharmacists traditionally used a mortar to prepare medications.
- The chef ground herbs into a paste using a mortar.
- Laboratory mortars are made from ceramic or stone.
- He carefully cleaned the mortar after making a spice blend.