To remove tar or tarry substance from something.
From de- (prefix meaning 'remove') + tar (the sticky substance). A straightforward English construction using the prefix 'de-' to mean the opposite or removal of the base word.
English loves adding 'de-' to verbs to mean 'undo' that action—defrost, decode, detar. It's like having a secret shortcut to create opposite meanings without learning completely new words!
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