coal tar

American  

noun

1. 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.

---

coal tar British  

noun

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

---

coal tar Scientific  

1. 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.

---

Other Word Forms

• coal-tar
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of coal tar

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Fahlberg was a chemist doing routine work on coal tar at Johns Hopkins University in 1879.

From Slate • Feb. 12, 2019

“It’s coal tar and it’s a known carcinogen and mostly you find it in industrial settings,” said Horney.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 22, 2018

A shampoo or an over-the-counter cream with salicylic acid can soften plaques; one with coal tar can reduce discomfort.

From Washington Post • Dec. 30, 2016

Except all of it overlooks the Gowanus Canal, a murky, smelly Superfund site choked with raw sewage and an iridescent sheen of oil, PCBs, coal tar and other industrial wastes.

From Washington Times • Jul. 21, 2016

Maybe she wants to see me sweat coal tar, ink, shoe polish, graphite.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison