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

Vikings Hall of Famer John Randle equated Ryan to the person, cloaked head to foot in soot, who shovels coal into a train engine without the passengers ever seeing his face. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 July 2026

A little soot is to be expected at the Georgetown restaurant, whose open kitchen is taken up by a very large metal hearth. — Elazar Sontag, Washington Post, 23 July 2026

Verb

Counties were graded based on how much smog and soot the researchers detected, in addition to the length of time the pollutants were there. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026

The ashes from the crematorium chimney covered the streets, sooted the rain, dirtied the snow, damaged the crops, infected every body. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for soot

• foot
• put
• afoot
• barefoot
• bigfoot
• blackfoot
• caput
• clubfoot
• cocksfoot
• crowfoot
• forefoot
• input

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