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noun

soot

soot

Soot (noun) means the fine black powder left behind when coal, wood, or oil burns incompletely. Example: “Soot coated the inside of the old chimney.”

noun
1
The fine black powder left behind when coal, wood, or oil burns incompletely.
"Soot coated the inside of the old chimney."
"His hands were black with soot after cleaning the fireplace."
verb
1
To cover or stain something with soot.
"Years of candle smoke had sooted the ceiling."

How to use soot

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe black, powdery residue from smoke.

Common pairings
covered in soot soot-stained chimney soot

Word forms

sooted past tense, soots plural, soots singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ coated the inside of the old chimney.

Etymology

From Old English sot, going back to a very old Germanic word for soot.

Origin: Old English

smut crock lampblack carbon black

Related words

Rhymes for soot

See all rhymes for soot →

Frequently asked questions

What does “soot” mean?

The word “soot” means the fine black powder left behind when coal, wood, or oil burns incompletely. In plain terms, the black, powdery residue from smoke.

How do you pronounce “soot”?

“Soot” is pronounced soot (/suːt/ in IPA).

How do you use “soot” in a sentence?

Here is “soot” used in a sentence: “Soot coated the inside of the old chimney.”

What part of speech is “soot”?

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

Where does the word “soot” come from?

The word “soot” comes from Old English. From Old English sot, going back to a very old Germanic word for soot.

How many meanings does “soot” have?

“Soot” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the fine black powder left behind when coal, wood, or oil burns incompletely.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial