Soot Meaning and Definition

Soot

Soot

Pronunciation

/soʊt/

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

Black carbon particles or other fine particles in smoke or air pollution; often produced by combustion of fossil fuels.

Etymology

From Old English; related to Dutch soot, and German staub.

Usage Notes

Use soot to describe small particles of carbon or other substances found in smoke or air pollution. It is often used in technical or scientific contexts.

Cultural References

Soot appears in literature and art as a symbol of decay, pollution, and environmental degradation.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

  • Black as soot
  • Footprints in the soot

Related Words or Phrases

  • Sootfall
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon footprint

Collocations

  • Smoke soot
  • Air soot
  • Soot pollution

Frequency of Use

Soot is a relatively uncommon word, but it is increasingly used in modern language due to growing concerns about environmental pollution.

Common Misspellings

  • Sootte
  • Souot

Related Words