Meaning & use
mortar
A mixture of cement, sand, and water used to bind bricks or stones together in construction.
See it in a sentence
The mason spread fresh mortar between each row of bricks.
Cracks in the old mortar let rainwater seep into the wall.
A note on using this word
Mortar also names a sturdy bowl used with a pestle to grind ingredients, and a short-barreled weapon that fires shells in an arc.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A short, portable cannon that fires shells in a high arc.
Soldiers fired the mortar over the hill to strike targets they could not see directly.
3. noun
A strong bowl in which ingredients are ground with a pestle.
She crushed the peppercorns with a mortar and pestle before adding them to the dish.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mortar”, then compare your use with the examples above.