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.

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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

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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.

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Other Word Forms

• coal-tar
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of coal tar

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

The gas plant generated large volumes of coal tar and creosote wastes from its process of turning low-grade coal into gas for street lamps and homes.

From Washington Post • Jun. 24, 2022

“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

Now they are dredging the basin to scoop up 10 feet of black sediment heavily laced with coal tar.

From New York Times • Oct. 13, 2017

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