a thick, sticky black liquid that becomes hard when cold. Tar is obtained from coal and is used especially in making roads. 焦油；焦油沥青；柏油 a substance similar to tar that is formed when tobacco is burned （烟草点燃后产生的）焦油 low-tar cigarettes 焦油含量低的卷烟 the average tar yield of British cigarettes 英国香烟的平均焦油产量
see also Jack Tar
Word OriginOld English teru, teoru, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch teer, German Teer, and perhaps ultimately to tree.
Idioms
spoil the ship for a ha’p’orth/ha’pennyworth of tar
- (saying)
to cause something good to fail because you did not spend a small but necessary amount of money or time on a small but essential part of it 因小失大