Soot: meaning, definitions and examples

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soot

 

[ suːt ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

black substance

Soot is a black powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon, produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter.

Synonyms

ash, carbon, smut

Examples of usage

  • The chimney was covered in soot.
  • The firefighter's face was covered in soot after battling the blaze.
Context #2 | Verb

to cover with soot

To soot means to cover or blacken with soot.

Synonyms

blacken, dirty, smudge

Examples of usage

  • The fire had sooted the walls of the old house.
  • The pots and pans were sooted from cooking over the open flame.

Translations

Translations of the word "soot" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fuligem

🇮🇳 कालिख

🇩🇪 Ruß

🇮🇩 sisa pembakaran

🇺🇦 сажа

🇵🇱 sadza

🇯🇵 すす

🇫🇷 suie

🇪🇸 hollín

🇹🇷 kül

🇰🇷 그을음

🇸🇦 سخام

🇨🇿 sa

🇸🇰 sadza

🇨🇳 烟灰

🇸🇮 savna

🇮🇸 sótar

🇰🇿 күйе

🇬🇪 ფეხი

🇦🇿 kük

🇲🇽 hollín

Word origin

The word 'soot' originated from the Old English word 'sōt', which is also related to Old Norse 'sot'. It has been used since the Middle Ages to describe the black substance resulting from the incomplete burning of organic matter. Soot has been a common environmental pollutant in urban areas due to the burning of fossil fuels and wood.

See also: sooty.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,669, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.