lampblack

American  

[lamp-blak] / ˈlæmpˌblæk /

noun

1. a fine black pigment consisting of almost pure carbon collected as soot from the smoke of burning oil, gas, etc.

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lampblack British  

/ ˈlæmpˌblæk /

noun

1. a finely divided form of almost pure carbon produced by the incomplete combustion of organic compounds, such as natural gas, used in making carbon electrodes and dynamo brushes and as a pigment

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Etymology

Origin of lampblack

First recorded in 1590–1600; lamp + black

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Compare meaning

How does lampblack compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• lampblack vs. ivory black

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lampblack

With their help, he mixed carefully measured quantities of lead nitrate into lampblack ink, creating inks with several different lead concentrations.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

He obtained papyrus and reed pens from Egypt, along with traditional lampblack ink from Japan.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

Result: Monsanto today makes 14 different raw materials for plastics, leads the world in production of lampblack and elemental phosphorus, turns out some 500 chemicals that other companies use in 20,000 different industrial processes.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Louvre Belle's shadows are of lampblack, characteristic of the 18th Century.

From Time Magazine Archive

The shoe poet sat by the glowing fireplace, polishing his boots with lampblack he had scraped from the hearth.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys

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