a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range
"The artillery officer ordered the mortar to fire on the enemy trench just beyond the ridge."
used as a bond in masonry or for covering a wall
"The mason mixed sand and lime to create mortar before applying it between the bricks of the new chimney."
a bowl-shaped vessel in which substances can be ground and mixed with a pestle
"She used an old ceramic mortar to grind the cinnamon sticks into a fine powder for her spice blend."
A mixture of lime or cement, sand and water used for bonding building blocks.
"The mason carefully spread a thick layer of mortar between the bricks to ensure they stayed firmly in place."
To use mortar or plaster to join two things together.
"The mason carefully applied mortar between the bricks to secure them in place."
The word comes from the Latin mortārium, which originally referred to a bowl used for grinding substances. It entered English through Old French and Middle English with this same meaning.