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

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

The ink, pure lampblack carbon and linseed oil unadulterated by modern aniline dyes, was specially ground in Germany in 1928.

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