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Glite Dictionary
mineral tar

mineral tar

8.5
A thick black sticky material made from oil and rocks used to make roofs waterproof and stop rust
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪnərəl tɑr/
  • Specialized
translation icon : betún mineral
  • During the industrial era, mineral tar was widely used for waterproofing roofs.

Examples

  • The pipe was coated with mineral tar to prevent corrosion.

  • If mineral tar is overheated, it can release harmful fumes.

  • The road was coated with mineral tar to improve durability.

  • Many construction projects use mineral tar for waterproofing.

  • Many construction projects use mineral tar for waterproofing because of its durability.

  • If mineral tar is overheated, it can release harmful fumes that are dangerous to breathe.

  • The pipe was coated with mineral tar to prevent corrosion and ensure a long-lasting seal.

Synonyms

tar
vsmineral tar
65 4.1

A thick dark sticky substance used to make roads and roofs waterproof

is from rock sources and sits between petroleum and asphalt in consistency
bitumen
vsmineral tar
  • UK
3 7.4

A thick black sticky substance used to make roads and roofs waterproof

is narrower, referring to an intermediate form between petroleum and asphalt
maltha
vsmineral tar
  • Archaic
9.9

A thick black sticky substance from the ground that seals and makes things waterproof

is similar but comes from rock deposits rather than organic residue
mineral pitch
vsmineral tar
  • Specialized
9.3

A thick dark sticky substance like tar that comes from oil or from the ground and is used for waterproofing

is more intermediate in consistency between petroleum and asphalt
asphaltum
vsmineral tar
  • Archaic
7.2

A dark tar-like material used to make roads and keep surfaces dry

is a raw bituminous substance rather than mainly a paving material

Surface Forms

mineral tar singular
mineral tars plural

Morphology

mineral + tar

The phrase 'mineral tar' is compositionally built: 'mineral' modifies 'tar' to indicate tar derived from minerals, and a learner who knows 'mineral' (inorganic substance) and 'tar' (viscous residue) can infer this meaning. Although somewhat technical, the modifier+noun pattern is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand the MWE.

Etymology

Mineral tar comes from the thick black tar made by heating minerals or underground oil; people used this sticky, glue-like material to 'seal' roofs and pipes and keep water out. That's why mineral tar means a thick, black, sticky substance used to 'protect' and 'waterproof' surfaces.