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mortero

mortar

noun mohr-TEH-roh Rare

Origin: From Latin mortarium (bowl for grinding).

Also means

mortar (weapon)

Usage Note

Mortero covers two distinct objects: the kitchen pestle-and-mortar bowl (mortero de cocina) used to grind spices, and the military mortar (mortero de artillería) that lobs shells. The implement for grinding is the mortero, while the pestle is la mano del mortero or maja. Context always disambiguates.

Examples

"Machacó el ajo en el mortero."

Natural Translation

She crushed the garlic in the mortar.

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