smoke
smohk
Smoke (noun) means the visible gas and particles given off by something burning. Example: “Smoke poured from the chimney all winter.”
noun
1
The visible gas and particles given off by something burning.
"Smoke poured from the chimney all winter."
"She could see smoke rising from the campfire."
"Thick black smoke filled the kitchen when the toast burned."
verb
1
To inhale and exhale smoke from a burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe.
"He tried to quit smoking for years."
"She smokes only on weekends."
"Visitors may not smoke anywhere inside the hospital building."
2
To give off smoke.
"The damp wood smoked badly in the fireplace."
"The old engine smoked badly whenever we started it up."
"The bonfire was still smoking when we left the field."
3
To preserve or flavor food by exposing it to smoke.
"They smoke their own salmon at the lodge."
"My uncle smokes mackerel in a little shed at the bottom of his garden."
"The butcher smokes his bacon over oak chips for hours."
How to use smoke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe visible fumes from burning material, or the act of inhaling burning tobacco (or preserving food with smoke).
Common pairings
smoke a cigarette
go up in smoke
smoked salmon
smoke signals
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Word forms
- Plural
- smokes
- Third person singular
- smokes
- Past tense
- smoked, smoken
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ poured from the chimney all winter.
Etymology
From Old English smoca, "smoke," related to Dutch and German words for smoke from a fire.
Related words
Rhymes for smoke
See all rhymes for smoke →Frequently asked questions
What does “smoke” mean?
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).
How do you pronounce “smoke”?
“Smoke” is pronounced smohk (/smoʊk/ in IPA).
How do you use “smoke” in a sentence?
Here is “smoke” used in a sentence: “Smoke poured from the chimney all winter.”
What part of speech is “smoke”?
Depending on how it is used, “smoke” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “smoke” come from?
The word “smoke” comes from Old English. From Old English smoca, "smoke," related to Dutch and German words for smoke from a fire.
Is “smoke” a common word?
“Smoke” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “smoke” have?
“Smoke” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the visible gas and particles given off by something burning.
What is the difference between smoke and steam?
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.
What is the difference between smoke and fog?
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.
What is smoke made of?
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.
Is smoke harmful?
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.
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