1. bowl-shaped vessels used for grinding or crushing substances with a pestle
2. short-barreled cannons that fire shells at high angles
Usage: military
3. mixtures of cement, sand, and water used to bind bricks or stones in construction
Usage: construction

Examples

• The pharmacist ground herbs in marble mortars.
• She used mortars and pestles to make fresh spice blends.
• The artillery unit positioned their mortars on the hillside.
• Enemy mortars fired shells over the defensive walls.
• Workers mixed fresh mortars to lay the brick foundation.
• The old building’s mortars had crumbled between the stones.
• Ancient mortars were often carved from stone or made of bronze.