The term "mortarboard" comes from the fact that the cap's flat top resembles a mortar, a bowl used for grinding or mixing substances, and its brim resembles a board.
Here are some examples of how the word "mortarboard" is used in a sentence:
* The students all wore mortarboards and gowns for the graduation ceremony.
* She tossed her mortarboard in the air after receiving her diploma.
* The mortarboard is a symbol of academic achievement.