soot

1 of 2

noun

ˈsu̇t 

ˈsət,

ˈsüt 

: a black substance formed by combustion or separated from fuel during combustion, rising in fine particles, and adhering to the sides of the chimney or pipe conveying the smoke

especially : the fine powder consisting chiefly of carbon that colors smoke

soot

2 of 2

verb

sooted; sooting; soots

transitive verb

: to coat or cover with soot

Examples of soot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The walls were midnight-black from generations of soot. —Johannes Lichtman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2024

Wearing a mask to filter out the acrid tang of sulfates and carbon soot, Wu uses his phone’s camera to capture the license plates and company markings on the buses, then a nearby address, then the school’s façade. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2024

Inhalable particulate matter, or PM10, includes such debris as dust, pollen, wildfire ash and soot. —Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2024

Each day a child breathes wildfire smoke thick with ash and fine soot that child’s likelihood of experiencing anxiety and depression and other mental health problems increases, according to new scientific research on air pollution and childhood development. —Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English sōt; akin to Old Irish suide soot, Old English sittan to sit

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1602, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

soot

noun

ˈsu̇t,

ˈsət,

ˈsüt

: a black powder formed when something is burned

especially : the fine powder consisting chiefly of carbon that colors smoke