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

With an old broom and buckets of refuse oil mixed with lampblack he drew a line 40 ft. wide across a 29-mi. stretch of the lake's surface.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Time Magazine Archive

Artist Arno painted these scenes in black writing ink with washes of lampblack.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Time Magazine Archive

He sharpened a quill with his small pen knife to scribe these things in sloe or lampblack?

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy