creosote
noun
cre·o·sote
| \ ˈkrē-ə-ˌsōt
\
\
Definition of creosote
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a clear or yellowish flammable oily liquid mixture of phenolic compounds obtained by the distillation of tar derived from wood and especially from beech wood
2
: a brownish oily liquid consisting chiefly of aromatic hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of coal tar and used especially as a wood preservative
3
: a dark brown or black flammable tar deposited from especially wood smoke on the walls of a chimney
4
: creosote bush
creosote
verb
creosoted;
creosoting
Definition of creosote (Entry 2 of 2)
: to treat with creosote
Examples of creosote in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Over the years, numerous spills, accidents and a fire in the early 1970s had fouled the plant grounds and Bayou Bonfouca with creosote. — Bob Warren, NOLA.com, "Slidell Superfund site becomes marina with snip of ribbon - and years of work," 18 May 2018 Slidell's new marina, which combined federal and local money to build new floating and fixed dock space at what was once an area fouled by a creosote plant, has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. — Bob Warren, NOLA.com, "EPA lauds Slidell's conversion of Superfund site into marina," 24 May 2018 Tree stumps and old fence posts rise amid the creosote and waist-high tamarisk. — Anne Burke, San Francisco Chronicle, "You no longer need a snorkel to see this Nevada ghost town," 30 Apr. 2018 The smell of creosote floats up from the floor in the factory, made from slices of wood that go back decades, to the days when weapons were packed there. — Ely Portillo, charlotteobserver, "How a Charlotte factory where Ford Model Ts and missiles were built found new life," 25 Jan. 2018 Burning the tree can contribute to creosote buildup results in a chimney fire. — Leada Gore, AL.com, "Where can you recycle your old Christmas tree?," 26 Dec. 2017 The fireplace: Have a professional chimney sweep inspect and clean the fireplace and chimney annually –maintenance is crucial to prevent creosote buildups and potential fires. — Don Sorrell, Cincinnati.com, "Dried-out trees are a major safety hazard," 17 Dec. 2017 Dirty chimneys — those with a build-up of creosote — can cause fires. — Pat Setter, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Quick fall home maintenance tasks now can prevent crises later," 14 Oct. 2017 He had been shipped there for crimes against the Directorate and had spent years driving truckloads of creosote to the canyon and dumping them in. — Author: Garrison Keillor, Alaska Dispatch News, "To satisfy the Swedes, a Nobel lit winner must work the abyss," 12 Oct. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'creosote.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for creosote
creosote
noun
English Language Learners Definition of creosote
: a brown, oily liquid used to keep wood from rotting
See the full definition for creosote in the English Language Learners Dictionary
creosote
noun
cre·o·sote
| \ ˈkrē-ə-ˌsōt
\
\
Medical Definition of creosote
1
: a clear or yellowish flammable oily liquid mixture of phenolic compounds obtained by the distillation of wood tar especially from beech wood and used especially as a disinfectant and as an expectorant in chronic bronchitis
2
: a brownish oily liquid consisting chiefly of aromatic hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of coal tar and used especially as a wood preservative
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