cre·o·sote
ˈkrē-ə-ˌsōt 
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
Examples of creosote in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 22 Mar. 2024
The legal agreement with the Potomac Riverkeeper Network attempts to resolve a problem that has been going on for decades as coal tar, creosote and other pollutants seeped into the river from a leaky storm water sewer at the former site of a coal-to-gas plant owned by the city in Old Town.
—Teo Armus, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023
They are designed to keep creosote from forming, not to remove it.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
Farther into the boulders and creosote is a perfectly round platform ready for sun salutations or stargazing.
—John Wogan Laura Bannister Tariro Mzezewa Elissa Suh Dana Covit Jameson Montgomery, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2023
Then the sun becomes an aerosol of sweat and creosote, a fragrance
of old rose and spoiled milk, of feces and mud.
—Amaud Jamaul Johnson, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2023
Invasive grasses played a role in stoking that fire, known as the Geology fire, which burned in an area populated by Joshua trees, Mojave yucca, creosote and senna, park officials said.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2023
A day on the beach could mean getting creosote on your the bottom of the feet.
—Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2023
The yucca and creosote plants were bathed in golden light.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2023
oregonlive, 17 Oct. 2020
Noun
Open to the sky and drenched in the resinous scent of creosote, the homeward trek keeps on delivering goodies.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 22 Mar. 2024
The legal agreement with the Potomac Riverkeeper Network attempts to resolve a problem that has been going on for decades as coal tar, creosote and other pollutants seeped into the river from a leaky storm water sewer at the former site of a coal-to-gas plant owned by the city in Old Town.
—Teo Armus, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023
They are designed to keep creosote from forming, not to remove it.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
Farther into the boulders and creosote is a perfectly round platform ready for sun salutations or stargazing.
—John Wogan Laura Bannister Tariro Mzezewa Elissa Suh Dana Covit Jameson Montgomery, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2023
Then the sun becomes an aerosol of sweat and creosote, a fragrance
of old rose and spoiled milk, of feces and mud.
—Amaud Jamaul Johnson, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2023
Invasive grasses played a role in stoking that fire, known as the Geology fire, which burned in an area populated by Joshua trees, Mojave yucca, creosote and senna, park officials said.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2023
A day on the beach could mean getting creosote on your the bottom of the feet.
—Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2023
The yucca and creosote plants were bathed in golden light.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2023
Verb
So, then the question becomes: How long does creosote remain a risk in the soil?
—oregonlive, 17 Oct. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'creosote.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near creosote
Cite this Entry
“Creosote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creosote. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
creosote
1 of 2 noun
cre·o·sote
ˈkrē-ə-ˌsōt
1
: a brownish oily liquid obtained from coal tar and used especially to preserve wood
2
: a dark flammable tar left in a chimney especially from the smoke of a wood fire
3
creosote
2 of 2 verb
creosoted; creosoting
: to treat with creosote
Medical Definition
creosote
noun
cre·o·sote
ˈkrē-ə-ˌsōt
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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