mortar

A weapon that fires explosive shells high into the air so they fall on a target.

• The soldiers fired a mortar.
• Mortar shells landed near the bridge.
• The unit carried two mortars up the hill.

Common phrases: mortar fire, mortar attack, mortar shell, light mortar

A wet mixture used to hold bricks or stone blocks together, which becomes hard when dry.

• The builder mixed some mortar.
• Fill the gaps between the bricks with mortar.
• The old mortar had started to crack.

Common phrases: mix mortar, wet mortar, mortar joints, cement mortar

A strong bowl in which you crush ingredients with a heavy stick.

• Crush the garlic in a mortar.
• She used a mortar and pestle to grind the spices.
• This stone mortar is heavy.

Common phrases: mortar and pestle, stone mortar, in a mortar

To attack a place or people with shells fired high into the air from a small heavy weapon.

• The troops mortared the enemy position.
• They mortared the camp during the night.
• The village was mortared twice that week.

Similar words: shell, bombard

Common phrases: mortar a base, mortar a position