creosote

1 of 2

noun

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

: creosote bush

creosote

2 of 2

verb

creosoted; creosoting

transitive verb

: to treat with creosote

Examples of creosote in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Smaller touches of creosote and iodine lend complexity and keep the smokiness from being one-dimensional, but overall, the nose isn’t overpoweringly chemical. — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 7 May 2026

Spiky Mexican feathergrass pushes through the gravel in the high desert that smells of creosote after a light rain. — Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

Upstaging native grasses are invasive brushes like honey mesquite, whitethorn acacia and creosote, far from the ideal food sources for cattle. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Leafing through last year’s Oscar issue, Homer French was inspired enough to paint an Oscar lying among the King Clone creosote, an 11,700-year-old plant considered one of the oldest living organisms on Earth. — Michael Slenske, HollywoodReporter, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

German Kreosot, from Greek kreas flesh + sōtēr preserver, from sōzein to preserve, from sōs safe (probably akin to Sanskrit tavīti he is strong); from its antiseptic properties — more at raw

First Known Use

Noun

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1836, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing creosote

• creosote bush

Rhymes for creosote

• afloat
• azote
• banknote
• bareboat
• benzoate
• connote
• cutthroat
• demote
• denote
• devote
• endnote
• footnote

Kids 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 bush

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