Mortar has several meanings:

• A mortar is a vessel used to contain a substance which is then ground into a powder and/or mixed with a pestle. Mortars have smooth, rounded bottoms and wide mouths.
• Mortar is a material used in masonry to fill the gaps between blocks in construction and bind the blocks together
• A mortar is a military weapon into which is dropped a mortar shell, which is then fired in a high ballistic trajectory .