mortarmor‧tar /ˈmɔːtə $ ˈmɔːrtər/ noun 
[uncountable] a mixture of cement or lime, and sand and water, used in building for holding bricks or stones together2[countable] a heavy gun that fires bombs or shells in a high curve: 
A cameraman was killed when his vehicle came under mortar fire. a mortar attack3[countable] a stone bowl in which substances are crushed with a pestle (=tool with a heavy round end): You’ll need a pestle and mortar to grind the spices. → bricks and mortar at brick1(2)
WORD ORIGINmortar
Origin:
1000-1100 Old French mortier, from Latin mortariumEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Leese and I looked at each other as the mortars got closer.
- Most of the Brigade casualties so far have been caused mainly by mortar and shellfire and, of course, the constant sniping.
- On downtown streets, broken glass covered many sidewalks and fallen bricks and mortar dented cars.
- Soldiers had parachuted across, but mortar fire had seen them off.
- The mortar team have started up again, sending their shells through the drizzle.
- The following day we used proper plaster over the hardened mortar, but cellulose filler could also have been used.
- They used helicopters, airplanes and mortars.
WORD SETS
adobe, nounasphalt, nounbatten, nounbeam, nounblueprint, nounboard, nounboom, nounbreeze-block, nounbrick, nounbricklayer, nounbrickwork, nounbucket, nounbuilder, nounbuilding contractor, nounbuilding site, nounbulldoze, verbbulldozer, nounbuttress, nouncaisson, nouncantilever, nouncastellated, adjectivecavity wall, nouncement, nouncement, verbconcrete, adjectiveconcrete, nounconcrete, verbconduit, nounconstruct, verbcrane, nouncrosspiece, noundaub, noundigger, noundowel, noundrain, noundrainage, noundraughtsman, noundry-stone wall, noundry wall, nounduckboards, noundustsheet, nounembankment, nounerect, verberection, nounfence, verbfencing, nounfiberboard, nounfibreboard, nounfloor plan, nounfoundation, noungantry, noungatepost, noungirder, noungreenfield site, nounhalf-timbered, adjectivehard hat, nounhod, nounhousing association, nounhousing project, nounjackhammer, nounjib, nounjoist, nounkeystone, nounlath, nounleading, nounmansard, nounmortar, nounpanelling, nounpanel pin, nounpave, verbpavement, nounpebbledash, nounpier, nounpile driver, nounplank, nounplanking, nounplaster, nounplaster, verbplasterboard, nounplasterer, nounplate glass, nounpoint, verbPortakabin, nounprime, verbprimer, nounproperty developer, nounputty, nounquantity surveyor, nounrebuild, verbreconstruct, verbreconstruction, nounrefurbish, verbreinforced concrete, nounrendering, nounrenovate, verbrevetment, nounroof, nounroof, verbroofing, nounrooftop, nounrubble, nounsand, verbsandstone, nounsaw, verbscaffold, nounscaffolding, nounshovel, nounsite, nounskip, nounslab, nounslate, nounspan, verbstarter home, nounsteam shovel, nounstilt, nounstucco, nounsurface, verbsuspension bridge, nounthatch, nounthatched, adjectivetile, nountile, verbtiling, nountimber, nountopcoat, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY A cameraman was killed when his vehicle came under mortar fire. a mortar attackCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES an exploding mortar shellCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
A cameraman was killed when his vehicle came under mortar fire. a mortar attack· There were 15 dead and 20 wounded in a missile attack on the capital.
an exploding mortar shell· Half a mile up the hill, heavy mortars are lined against them.· I gave no thought to this until heavy mortar fire began to hit extremely close.· Rain had turned the battlefield to a swamp, and it proved impossible to move up heavy mortars to knock them out.· The enemy directed heavy mortar fire at the artillery positions while an assault was launched on all sides of the perimeter.
NOUN· At 21 months, little Mirza is the youngest to be brought here from the mortar attacks and shelling around Sarajevo.
· With its aid, two unexploded mortar bombs are located.· After some ti me the job is completed and the two mortar bombs have been neutralised.· Suddenly there was the unmistakable swish of a mortar bomb, then the explosion a few yards away.· Tuesday's mortar bomb blast left him with three chunks of shrapnel in his abdomen.· From their position in the hills, the forces lobbed three mortar bombs into the crowded streets.· Two were hit by shrapnel from a mortar bomb at the weekend.· The other two had been trying to rescue him when all three had been killed by a single well-placed mortar bomb.· Several other mortar bombs have been thrown out into the darkness.
· Their car came under mortar fire and they had to cross five military checkpoints.· Each time we came in there was mortar fire and plumes of smoke.· The mortar fire went on relentlessly, and showers of earth went up.· Soldiers had parachuted across, but mortar fire had seen them off.· I gave no thought to this until heavy mortar fire began to hit extremely close.· Our firebase had been taking mortar fire from a wooded area some distance away.· Around dawn they were hit with mortar fire.
· The exploding mortar shell has a strength of 7.· Rifle grenades, land mines, dynamite, antitank guns, mortar shells.· The mortar shell explodes before it is fired.· Unlike the solid cannon ball a mortar shell is hollow and filled with gunpowder.· The crew light the fuse before dropping the mortar shell into the mortar.· Hundreds of bullets were let loose - followed by tear-gas and even mortar shells - as protesters were cut down without mercy.· A well placed mortar shell can therefore kill a great many victims at once.· Now declare how far you want to fire the mortar shell.
· The mortar team have started up again, sending their shells through the drizzle.· Taff was chatting to the 3 mortar team that had moved into the orchard that afternoon.· Ninth July - having supper with the mortar team, the menu pretty good.· At 6 a.m. the mortar team started to drum up for breakfast.· The mortar team in the orchard were delighted when I turned up with ten fresh fish which were cooked immediately.· He catches sight of the mortar team and myself sitting on the grass drinking our tea.
VERB· Quarry tiles are usually laid in a mortar bed, although you can use thick-bed tile adhesive instead.· Trying to raise efficiency and morale without first setting this structure to rights is like trying to lay bricks without mortar.· The pieces are laid on mortar over a bed of concrete.
· Make sure any old mortar has bee cleaned off the stonework before using new mortar.· Frequently, infantry units dispensed with their own mor-tars altogether and used the mortar teams as an additional rifle squad.· For a small job use a bag of mortar mix.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1- As a former building contractor, he had an eye for a sound investment in bricks and mortar.
- I saw him raining bricks and mortar on the people of Clydebank.
- On downtown streets, broken glass covered many sidewalks and fallen bricks and mortar dented cars.
- Sound waves can also travel through solids, even such as bricks and mortar.
- The original bricks and mortar might be pulled down but Leatherslade Farm will remain for ever at the centre of the legend.
- The prospect of delightful gardens was lost and the Brook disappeared under bricks and mortar.
- We feel that bricks and mortar are solid investment.
- What was a potentially valuable, or at least useful, asset in bricks and mortar rapidly becomes a liability.
[uncountable] a mixture of cement or lime, and sand and water, used in building for holding bricks or stones together2[countable] a heavy gun that fires bombs or shells in a high curve: A cameraman was killed when his vehicle came under mortar fire. a mortar attack3[countable] a stone bowl in which substances are crushed with a pestle (=tool with a heavy round end): You’ll need a pestle and mortar to grind the spices. → bricks and mortar at brick1(2)