soot

[ soot, soot ]

noun

1. a black, carbonaceous substance produced during incomplete combustion of coal, wood, oil, etc., rising in fine particles and adhering to the sides of the chimney or pipe conveying the smoke: also conveyed in the atmosphere to other locations.

verb (used with object)

1. to mark, cover, or treat with soot.

soot

/ sʊt /

noun

1. finely divided carbon deposited from flames during the incomplete combustion of organic substances such as coal

verb

1. tr to cover with soot

soot

/ st /

1. A black, powdery substance that consists mainly of carbon and is formed through the incomplete combustion of wood, coal, diesel oil, or other materials. Because it absorbs energy from sunlight rather than reflecting it, soot is believed to be a cause of global warming, especially when it settles on snow and ice, reducing their reflectivity. Soot particles in the air are a contributing factor in respiratory diseases.

Other Words From

• sootless adjective
• sootlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of soot¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English sōt; cognate with Old Norse sōt

Word History and Origins

Origin of soot¹

Old English sōt; related to Old Norse, Middle Low German sōt, Lithuanian sódis, Old Slavonic sažda, Old Irish sūide

Example Sentences

In his shop, a few surviving clothes hung on a rail, coated in soot.

From BBC

The building was not only repaired, but also cleaned of centuries' worth of dust and soot from the fire.

From BBC

In 2013, China began curbing soot and ozone from industry and vehicles.

From Science Magazine

Pateman fled the scene on his bike but was found at his mother's house where he had gone to bed covered in soot.

From BBC

Ornelas, who rents a house in the Boggs Tract neighborhood, says she has to wear a mask just to work outside, or to clean the soot off her car every few days.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grime
• grit
• residue
• sediment
• smoke
• smudge