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

Compare meaning

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

• lampblack vs. ivory black

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lampblack

He mixed his own inexpensive paints, including such ingredients as rock dust, mud and lampblack.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

What weakens the antis' case is that they have not produced clear physical or documentary evidence that any of the glue and lampblack on the Sistine was put there by Michelangelo himself.

From Time Magazine Archive

His chin, belly, groin and legs were daubed with a coating of lampblack and collodion.

From Time Magazine Archive

She was so young, but she had the same lampblack hair, the same dark eyes.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee