smoke

noun

\ ˈsmōk

Definition of smoke

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the gaseous products of burning materials especially of organic origin made visible by the presence of small particles of carbon

b : a suspension of particles in a gas

2a : a mass or column of smoke

b : smudge

3 : fume or vapor often resulting from the action of heat on moisture

4 : something of little substance, permanence, or value

5 : something that obscures

6a(1) : something (such as a cigarette) to smoke

(2) : marijuana sense 2

b : an act of smoking tobacco especially : a smoking break

7a : a pale blue

b : any of the colors of smoke

8 : pitches that are fastballs if a guy's going to hit you … he certainly isn't going to throw a spitter—he gives you smoke— Tony Conigliaro

smoke

verb

smoked; smoking

Definition of smoke (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to emit or exhale smoke

b : to emit excessive smoke

2 archaic : to undergo punishment : suffer

3 : to spread or rise like smoke

4 : to inhale and exhale the fumes of burning plant material and especially tobacco especially : to smoke tobacco habitually

transitive verb

1a : fumigate

b : to drive (something, such as mosquitoes) away by smoke

c : to blacken or discolor with smoke smoked glasses

d : to cure by exposure to smoke smoked ham

e : to stupefy (insects, such as bees) by smoke

2 archaic : suspect

3 : to inhale and exhale the smoke of smoke a cigarette

4 archaic : ridicule

5 slang : kill sense 1a

6 slang : to defeat or surpass decisively

7 : to hit (something, such as a baseball) with great force

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Examples of smoke in a Sentence

Noun Smoke from the campfire stung my eyes. We could see black smoke from the house fire. Can I bum a few smokes off you? Verb I caught her smoking a cigarette. He was thrown out of school for smoking marijuana. She smokes and drinks, but I don't. Do you mind if I smoke in here? That old car smokes when you start it up. the smoking remains of a fire We smoke our hams over hickory.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Charcoal grills also infuse meat with flavor via one of two methods: by using the smoke from wood chips on the coal bed or drippings on the coal bed that have vaporized. — Megan Oster, chicagotribune.com, "Best patio essentials 2021," 2 Apr. 2021 Wood smoke from a fire pit wafted across what used to be a Speedway gas station. — Washington Post, "Outside the courthouse, Minneapolis weighs the meaning of the Chauvin trial," 31 Mar. 2021 Here on the West Coast, smoke from fires upended the schedule. — Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle, "Baseball's 2021 season brings hope for Giants, for A's - and for a return to normalcy," 28 Mar. 2021 Outside, there was so much smoke from fires that the plumes blocked the sun. — Javonte Anderson, USA TODAY, "30 years after Rodney King, Derek Chauvin trial is 'like reliving history' for lawmakers, lawyers, activists and others who were there," 19 Mar. 2021 Weege could smell smoke from fires around the Twin Cities during the riots after George Floyd's death in Minneapolis police custody. — Reid Forgrave, Star Tribune, "Minnesota National Guard 'ready' to keep peace for Derek Chauvin trial," 9 Mar. 2021 The smoke from the fire in the 8700 block of Wuest Road could be seen from Colerain Avenue some two miles away, according to a news release from the township’s Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services. — Jeanne Houck, The Enquirer, "Colerain Township two-car garage fire emits smoke plume visible two miles away," 7 Mar. 2021 Prosser was initially hopeful last September as prevailing winds pushed smoke from nearby wildfires out over the Pacific Ocean. — Michael Alberty | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, "Willamette Valley winemaker taps Wonka power to trump wildfire smoke," 27 Feb. 2021 Waterbury firefighters spent hours Thursday battling a stubborn blaze at an industrial and retail scrap metal recycling business, with plumes of smoke from the fire visible from miles away. — Amanda Blanco, courant.com, "Firefighters battle stubborn blaze at Waterbury recycling business; DEEP called in to contain petroleum in Naugatuck River," 25 Feb. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb If this elite sextet of fighter jets kicks up more velocity, sonic booms and smoke trails than last time, it’s not just your imagination. — Phillip Valys, sun-sentinel.com, "U.S. Navy Blue Angels to headline 2021 Fort Lauderdale Air Show in new Super Hornets," 6 Apr. 2021 The call came in at 9:26 a.m. and was upgraded to second-alarm level due to the condition of the fire, smoke density and number of injuries reported, said Harris. — Eddie Morales, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Firefighters and police rescued multiple people from a burning apartment complex in Brown Deer," 2 Apr. 2021 What to Handle Monthly: Test carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers, which should be kept on every floor at a minimum. — Monique Valeris, Good Housekeeping, "A Handy Home Maintenance Checklist to Protect Your Biggest Investment," 23 Mar. 2021 Carefully remove it, turn it inside out, and smoke the fur side for a few minutes. — Tim Macwelch, Outdoor Life, "The Ultimate Guide to Tanning Wild Game Pelts and Hides," 24 Dec. 2020 Leo will grill a turkey and smoke a side of salmon. — Kim Severson, New York Times, "They Welcomed Dozens for Thanksgiving. Now What?," 23 Nov. 2020 The owner of the home, located in the 400 block of South Fountain Green Road, smelled smoke early Sunday morning and found the fire on top of the stove. — Aegis Staff, baltimoresun.com, "Family pet accidentally started kitchen fire at Bel Air home, officials say," 19 Oct. 2020 This will depend on how much smoke the lingering wildfires produce. — oregonlive, "Portland metro Friday weather: Steady rain, windy; high 65," 25 Sep. 2020 Muslim men and women are pressured to drink and smoke. — Ben Mauk, The New Yorker, "Inside Xinjiang’s Prison State," 27 Feb. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'smoke.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.