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Mortar is a workable paste which dries to bind building blocks such as stones, bricks, and concrete masonry units, to fill and seal the irregular gaps between them, and sometimes to add decorative colors or patterns to masonry walls. The word "mortar" comes from Latin mortarium, meaning crushed. The mortar functions as a weaker component than the building blocks and serves as the sacrificial element in the masonry, because mortar is easier and less expensive to repair than the building blocks. Lime mortar is used particularly in the repair and repointing of historic buildings and structures so that the repair materials will be similar in performance and appearance to the original materials. The ancient binder lime mortar is still used in some specialty new construction.