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DictionarymortarMasonry binding mixture
noun / verb

mortar

MOR-ter/ˈmɔːrtər/

A mixture used to bind bricks, stones, or blocks together.

The wet mortar fills the joints between the unfinished bricks.

A close view of a small unfinished brick wall shows thick, wet gray mortar bedding the bricks and filling their joints, with a loaded masonry trowel resting beside the exposed mortar bed.
Etymology
mortarLatinbuilding mortar; mixing bowl

Latin mortarium named both building mortar and a mixing or pounding bowl. The mixture was probably named for its vessel, though which sense came first is uncertain.

In context

Universe Inside You5:09
inferior Inca repairs made of small rough stones and clay mortar
Pre-Inca Megastructures That CAN NOT Be Explained

More examples

  • They mortared the stones together.
  • The mason mixed fresh mortar.
  • She is mortaring the final row.

Forms

mortar · mortars · mortared · mortaring

Similar words

cement
Often an ingredient in mortar rather than the complete mixture.
grout
Typically fills gaps rather than bedding masonry units.