smoke

The word “smoke” means the visible gas and particles given off by something burning. In plain terms, the visible fumes from burning material, or the act of inhaling burning tobacco (or preserving food with smoke).

“Smoke” is pronounced smohk (/smoʊk/ in IPA).

Here is “smoke” used in a sentence: “Smoke poured from the chimney all winter.”

Depending on how it is used, “smoke” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “smoke” comes from Old English. From Old English smoca, "smoke," related to Dutch and German words for smoke from a fire.

“Smoke” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Smoke” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the visible gas and particles given off by something burning.

Smoke is the mix of gases and tiny solid particles released when something burns; it is often grey, black, or brown and can carry a smell. Steam is simply water in gas form, produced by boiling or evaporation, and is white and made only of water. Burning creates smoke; heating water creates steam.

Both cloud the air, but they form differently. Smoke is made of particles given off by burning. Fog is made of tiny water droplets suspended near the ground. When smoke and fog combine over a city, the result is often called smog, a word blended from the two.

Smoke is a mixture of gases and fine solid or liquid particles released when a material burns. It typically contains carbon particles, or soot, along with water vapour, carbon dioxide, and various other compounds depending on what is burning. Those suspended particles are what make smoke visible and give it its colour and smell.

Smoke can be harmful because it carries fine particles and gases that irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs, and prolonged exposure, from fires or tobacco, poses real health risks. The danger depends on what is burning and how much you breathe in. In any fire, smoke is often more dangerous than the flames.