臼
mortar; concave-shaped
Meanings
2 senses · 10 examplesnoun
mortar (for hulling grain)
formalTraditional agricultural tool used to remove husks from rice or grain by pounding.
Ancient farmers used mortars and pestles to hull rice.
This traditional mortar is rarely seen nowadays.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
Archaeologists discovered stone mortars from the Neolithic era.
My grandma's house still keeps an old wooden mortar.
Mortars are important tools of traditional agricultural civilization.
adjective
concave-shaped; sunken in the middle
neutralUsed to describe objects with a hollow or sunken central part, often used in compound terms.
Molars are the back teeth with concave chewing surfaces.
This concave-shaped flower pot is perfect for growing succulents.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
The concave hollow is ideal for storing small parts.
The dentist checked if any of his molars had cavities.
This concave-shaped inkstone has a retro texture.