Definition: Mortar is a masonry product composed of cement and sand. When water is mixed in with mortar, its binding element, the cement, is activated. Distinguish mortar from "concrete," which acts in a similar way but which contains coarse aggregate which is bound together by the cement. Concrete can stand alone, while mortar is used to hold brick or stone together. For example, to construct a hardscape design feature such as a brick patio or a mortared wall around an artificial pond, mortar would be used to hold the bricks or stones together.
Common Misspellings: morter
