Daily Almanac for
Nov 30, 2009
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mor•tar



Pronunciation: (môr'tur), [key]
—n.
1. a receptacle of hard material, having a bowl-shaped cavity in which substances are reduced to powder with a pestle.
2. any of various mechanical appliances in which substances are pounded or ground.
3. a cannon very short in proportion to its bore, for throwing shells at high angles.
4. some similar contrivance, as for throwing pyrotechnic bombs or a lifeline.

—v.t., v.i.
to attack with mortar fire or shells.

mor•tar



Pronunciation: (môr'tur), [key]
—n.
1. a mixture of lime or cement or a combination of both with sand and water, used as a bonding agent between bricks, stones, etc.
2. any of various materials or compounds for bonding together bricks, stones, etc.: Bitumen was used as a mortar.

—v.t.
to plaster or fix with mortar.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

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