tarrˈy /tärˈi/ adjective

Of, like, covered or soiled with tar

tar baby noun (chiefly US)

An intractable problem which embroils those who try to solve it

tar box noun

1. A shepherd's box for tar as ointment for sheep
2. A shepherd

tarˈboy noun

A person who, during the shearing of sheep, puts tar or antiseptic on cuts

tar brush noun

A brush for applying tar

tar heel noun (US sl)

A North Carolinian

tarˈmac transitive verb (tarˈmacking; tarˈmacked)

To surface with tarmacadam

tarmacadˈam or tarˈmac noun (also Tarmac® in US)

1. A road surfacing of broken stone covered or mixed with tar
2. (tarˈmac) the runways of an airport

tar paper noun

Heavy paper treated with tar, used as a building material

tar pit noun (geology)

An outcrop where natural bitumen occurs

tarry breeks singular noun (Scot)

A sailor

tarrˈy-fingered adjective

Thievish

tar sand noun

A deposit of sand or sandstone saturated with bitumen, from which petroleum can be extracted

tar seal noun (NZ)

1. A tarmacadam surface on a road
2. A road so surfaced

tarˈ-seal transitive verb

To seal the surface of (a road) by covering with tarmacadam

tar spot noun

A black spot of Rhytisma

tar water noun

A cold infusion of tar in water, once popular as a medicine

tarˈweed noun

A name for various heavy-scented American composites

tar and feather

To smear with tar and then cover with feathers as a punishment

tarred with the same brush or stick

Having the same defects

touch of the tar brush (offensive)

A certain amount of eg African blood resulting in darkish skin

tarry¹ /tarˈi/

1. To linger
2. To loiter
3. To delay
4. To stay behind
5. To sojourn
6. To wait

To await

1. Delay
2. Sojourn, stay

tarrˈiance noun (archaic)

1. Tarrying
2. Delay
3. Waiting
4. A sojourn

tarrˈier noun

A person who tarries or delays

tarrˈow /tärˈō/ intransitive verb (Scot)

1. To hesitate
2. To be unwilling