Coal tar

Coal tar
Coal tar Coal" tar` A thick, black, tarry liquid, obtained by the distillation of bituminous coal in the manufacture of illuminating gas; used for making printer's ink, black varnish, etc. It is a complex mixture from which many substances have been obtained, especially hydrocarbons of the benzene or aromatic series. [1913 Webster]

Note: Among its important ingredients are benzene, aniline, phenol, naphtalene, anthracene, etc., which are respectively typical of many dye stuffs, as the aniline dyes, the phthale["i]ns, indigo, alizarin, and many flavoring extracts whose artificial production is a matter of great commercial importance. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Coal tar — is a brown or black liquid of extremely high viscosity, which smells of naphthalene and aromatic hydrocarbons. Coal tar is among the by products when coal is carbonized to make coke or gasified to make coal gas. Coal tars are complex and variable …   Wikipedia

  • coal tar — coal tar, adj. a thick, black, viscid liquid formed during the distillation of coal, that upon further distillation yields compounds, as benzene, anthracene, and phenol, from which are derived a large number of dyes, drugs, and other synthetic… …   Universalium

  • Coal tar — Tar Tar, n. [OE. terre, tarre, AS. teru, teoru; akin to D. teer, G. teer, theer, Icel. tjara, Sw. tj[ a]ra, Dan. ti[ae]re, and to E. tree. [root]63. See {Tree}.] A thick, black, viscous liquid obtained by the distillation of wood, coal, etc., and …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Coal tar — Coal Coal (k[=o]l), n. [AS. col; akin to D. kool, OHG. chol, cholo, G. kohle, Icel. kol, pl., Sw. kol, Dan. kul; cf. Skr. jval to burn. Cf. {Kiln}, {Collier}.] 1. A thoroughly charred, and extinguished or still ignited, fragment from wood or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • coal tar — n [U] a thick black sticky liquid made by heating coal without air, from which many drugs and chemical products are made ▪ coal tar soap …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • coal tar — coal′ tar n. chem. a viscid black liquid obtained by distillation of coal, used in making dyes, drugs, and other synthetic compounds • Etymology: 1775–85 coal′ tar , adj …   From formal English to slang

  • coal tar — ► NOUN ▪ a thick black liquid distilled from coal, containing organic chemicals including benzene, naphthalene, phenols, and aniline …   English terms dictionary

  • coal tar — n. a black, thick, opaque liquid obtained by the destructive distillation of bituminous coal, used in making dyes, medicines, plastics, paints, etc …   English World dictionary

  • coal tar — noun a tar formed from distillation of bituminous coal; coal tar can be further distilled to give various aromatic compounds • Hypernyms: ↑pitch, ↑tar • Substance Meronyms: ↑naphthalene * * * noun : tar obtained by the destructive distillation of …   Useful english dictionary

  • coal tar — A by product obtained during the destructive distillation of bituminous coal; a very dark semisolid of characteristic naphthalenelike odor and a sharp, burning taste; used in the treatment of skin diseases. * * * coal tar kōl n tar obtained by… …   Medical dictionary

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