coal tar

Meanings

1. 1noununcountabletechnical

   a thick, dark liquid obtained from coal, used in industry and in some medical treatments.

   Grammar: Uncountable: say 'some coal tar' or 'a bottle of coal tar', not 'a coal tar'.

   Patterns

   • coal tar shampoo
   • coal tar ointment
   • made from coal tar

   Coal tar is produced when coal is heated without air.

   The doctor recommended a coal tar ointment for her skin.

   Coal tar has a strong, unpleasant smell.

2. 2noununcountablemedical

   a medicine containing coal tar, used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and dandruff.

   Grammar: Often used before another noun: 'coal tar shampoo', 'coal tar cream'.

   Patterns

   • use coal tar on something
   • coal tar for a condition

   She uses coal tar shampoo twice a week to control her dandruff.

   Coal tar can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.

Common combinations

coal tar shampoo

Coal tar shampoo is available over the counter at most pharmacies.

coal tar ointment

The nurse applied coal tar ointment to the patches on his arms.

a coal tar product

Read the label carefully if you are allergic to coal tar products.

smell of coal tar

The whole bathroom smelled of coal tar after his treatment.

Synonyms and how they differ

tar

A general word for a thick dark substance; coal tar is specifically the kind obtained from coal.

pitch

A black sticky substance left after distilling tar; it is related but not the same as coal tar.

Word family

coal noun

The black substance from which coal tar is made.

tarry adjective

Covered with or like tar; sticky and black.

Commonly confused: coal tar or coal? coal tar or coaltar?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “coal tar”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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