coal tar

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noun

a thick, black, viscid liquid formed during the distillation of coal, that upon further distillation yields compounds, as benzene, anthracene, and phenol, from which are derived a large number of dyes, drugs, and other synthetic compounds, and that yields a final residuum (coal-tar pitch ), which is used chiefly in making pavements.

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Origin of coal tar

First recorded in 1775–85

OTHER WORDS FROM coal tar

coal-tar, adjective

Words nearby coal tar

Coalport, coal pot, Coalsack, coal scuttle, coal seam, coal tar, coal-tar creosote, coal-tar pitch, coal tit, coaly, coaming

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use coal tar in a sentence

The first food dyes were created from coal tar in the late 1800s.
The Dead Serious Reason You Might Want to Avoid Food Dyes|Lorne J. Hofseth, The Conversation|December 10, 2021|The Daily Beast
The State Department found that with high oil prices, the tar sands would be mined for oil, pipeline or no.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Pulling oil from the tar sands is costly, even more so when you tack transportation costs on top.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Therefore, we should—you guessed it—develop the Canadian tar sands and build the Keystone pipeline.
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline|Jay Michaelson|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Good governance would mean sticks and coal for too many of our favorite politicians.
Santa Fails One More Time|P. J. O’Rourke|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Loescher repeatedly emphasized that these sites are by no means limited to the La Brea Tar Pits.
The Fiery Underground Oil Pit Eating L.A.|Geoff Manaugh|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was little better than coal dust, and would not carry a ball fifty paces to kill or wound.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
This is not the first time in history when the lack of a ha'porth of tar has spoilt the ship of State.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Of late, however, it has acquired a far greater interest through the discovery of coal underneath its surface.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
And one of the seraphims flew to me, and in his hand was a live coal, which he had taken with the tongs off the altar.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
An explosion took place in the Blackheath coal mines, Virginia; by which of the twenty-three workmen only one escaped death.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell

British Dictionary definitions for coal tar

coal tar

noun

a black tar, produced by the distillation of bituminous coal, that can be further distilled to yield benzene, toluene, xylene, anthracene, phenol, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for coal tar

coal tar

A thick, sticky, black liquid obtained through the destructive distillation (heating in the absence of air) of coal. It is used as a source of many organic compounds, such as benzene, naphthalene, and phenols, which are used in dyes, drugs, and other compounds.