tare

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈter 

1

a

: the seed of a vetch

b

: any of several vetches (especially Vicia sativa and V. hirsuta)

2

: a weed of grain fields especially of biblical times that is usually held to be the darnel

3

tares plural : an undesirable element

tare

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a deduction from the gross weight of a substance and its container made in allowance for the weight of the container

also : the weight of the container

2

: counterweight

tare

3 of 3

verb

tared; taring

transitive verb

1

: to ascertain or mark the tare of (see tare entry 2 sense 1)

especially : to weigh so as to determine the tare

a tared vessel

2

: to adjust (a scale on which an empty container has been placed) so as to reduce the displayed weight to zero

Balances are taken for granted now, and many tare themselves—among other features. Yet it's still important to remember the basics for accurate use of this most fundamental lab instrument.

—Chemistry

Did you know?

Tare came to English by way of Middle French from the Old Italian term tara, which is itself from the Arabic word ṭarḥa, meaning "that which is removed." One of the first known written records of the word tare in English is found in the naval inventories of Britain's King Henry VII. The record shows two barrels of gunpowder weighing, "besides the tare," 500 pounds. When used of vehicles, tare weight refers to a vehicle's weight exclusive of any load. The term tare is closely tied to net weight, which is defined as "weight excluding all tare."

Examples of tare in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Crispy octopus glazed with tare was on the menu at the game. —Lisa Shames, Chicago Tribune, 25 Nov. 2024

Subtract the tare weight from the full weight. —Washington Post, 8 June 2021

For example, some scales are able to tell you heart rate, the weather forecast, or precisely measure infants and young children with tare buttons. —Caroline Thomason, Health, 6 Feb. 2023

Each bag also has a little tag announcing its tare weight so that I don’t get charged extra during checkout. —Urmila Ramakrishnan, Bon Appétit, 28 July 2022

In most stores, cashiers enter the tare before weighing the item. —Outside Online, 7 Mar. 2019

Many scales are now self-calibrated and offer a tare feature to zero the scale before stepping on it—both of which help keep the scale accurate long term. —Caroline Thomason, Health, 6 Feb. 2023

The most useful thing is the inclusion of tare weights listed prominently on it, so your cashier knows what to charge. —Outside Online, 7 Mar. 2019

Verb

Place your bowl on top of the scale and tare it before putting all the ground meat into the bowl. —Nik Pugmire, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2021

Our pros could quickly turn it off, tare it and switch between units of measurement. —Eva Bleyer, Good Housekeeping, 22 Aug. 2022

Using a kitchen scale makes this easy: set your bowl on the scale and tare it (reset the scale to zero). —Nik Pugmire, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English; probably akin to Middle Dutch tarwe wheat

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Old Italian tara, from Arabic ṭarḥa, literally, that which is removed

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

tare

noun

ˈta(ə)r,

ˈte(ə)r

: a weed of grain fields especially of biblical times

Medical Definition

tare

1 of 2 noun

ˈta(ə)r, ˈte(ə)r 

1

: a deduction from the gross weight of a substance and its container made in allowance for the weight of the container

2

: an empty vessel that is similar in physical properties to a weighing container and that is used as a counterbalance to compensate for changes in the weight of the weighing container due to changes in environmental conditions (as temperature or moisture)

tare

2 of 2 transitive verb

tared; taring

: to ascertain or mark the tare of

especially : to weigh so as to determine the tare