tar

A thick, sticky black substance used on roads and roofs, often made from coal.

• The tar stuck to my shoes.
• Workers spread hot tar along the road.
• The roof smelled of fresh tar.

Similar words: coal tar

Common phrases: coal tar, hot tar, tar roof

A long-necked string instrument with a narrow middle, played in Iran and nearby countries.

• She plays the tar.
• The musician tuned his tar before the concert.
• A gentle melody came from the Persian tar.

Common phrases: play the tar, Persian tar, tar player

To cover a surface with a thick, sticky black material, often to protect it from water.

• They will tar the road tomorrow.
• He tarred the roof to stop leaks.
• Workers were tarring the fence posts.

Common phrases: tar a road, tar a roof, tar the surface

To make others think badly of someone, often by unfairly connecting them with something wrong.

• The scandal tarred his reputation.
• Critics tarred the whole group with the same brush.
• One false accusation can tar someone’s good name.

How to use it: tar someone with something (They tarred him with accusations of dishonesty.); tar someone with the same brush (It is unfair to tar all politicians with the same brush.)

Similar words: smear, besmirch, blacken

Common phrases: tar someone’s reputation, tar someone with something