tar
1 antonyms and opposites of tar, grouped by meaning.
Noun — A thick, dark, sticky substance made from coal or wood, used in roofing and road-making.
Antonyms
How to use tar
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English teoru, tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "tree" — tar was traditionally made by distilling pine and other tree resin.
Full origin of tar →Frequently asked questions
What does “tar” mean?
The word “tar” means a thick, dark, sticky substance made from coal or wood, used in roofing and road-making. In plain terms, a sticky black substance used in construction, or (in tech) a file archive format on Unix systems.
How do you pronounce “tar”?
“Tar” is pronounced tah (/tɑɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tar” in a sentence?
Here is “tar” used in a sentence: “Workers spread hot tar over the new road surface.”
What is the opposite of “tar”?
The opposite of “tar” — its antonyms — is untar.
What part of speech is “tar”?
Depending on how it is used, “tar” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “tar” come from?
The word “tar” comes from Old English. From Old English teoru, tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "tree" — tar was traditionally made by distilling pine and other tree resin.
Is “tar” a common word?
“Tar” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tar” have?
“Tar” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thick, dark, sticky substance made from coal or wood, used in roofing and road-making.
What is the difference between tar and tarmac?
Tar is the thick, dark, sticky substance made from coal or wood used in roofing and road-making, while tarmac is a manufactured paving material made by mixing tar or similar binders with crushed stone. Tarmac is the finished road surface; tar is one of the raw ingredients that can go into it.
What is a tar file used for in computing?
A tar file bundles multiple files and directories into a single archive on Unix-based systems, making them easier to store or move together. On its own, a tar archive doesn't compress the data — compression is usually added separately, as in a .tar.gz file.
What is the difference between tar and asphalt?
Tar is the sticky substance itself, made from coal or wood, while asphalt is a broader paving material that can include tar, bitumen, and aggregate. In everyday speech people often use the two words interchangeably for a dark road surface, but technically they refer to different materials and processes.