soot

noun

\ ˈsu̇t

, ˈsət, ˈsüt

Definition of soot

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

verb

sooted; sooting; soots

Definition of soot (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to coat or cover with soot

Examples of soot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

There was still soot on the walls above the mine’s old candle notches. — Colin Campbell, baltimoresun.com, "'Secret' tunnels are hidden under Baltimore's Federal Hill. Where did they come from and what lies inside?," 26 June 2019 Both grandparents died from smoke inhalation, which the medical examiner concluded based on the soot in their lungs. — Talis Shelbourne, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee man sentenced for revenge plan that killed his grandparents," 20 June 2019 Often immigrants bearing the soot and scars of poverty, unrest, and other unappealing hardships. — Juliet Grames, BostonGlobe.com, "An open letter to my white MAGA-voting uncles on the occasion of my Italian-born great aunt’s funeral," 20 June 2019 The soot can settle on the snow and increase melting in the summer sun. — Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "Declassified satellite images show how Himalayan glaciers have shrunk," 19 June 2019 The fuel was also the lubricant for many of the engines’ moving parts—and the soot produced early on gave the lower section of the nozzle more protection from the heat of the growing flame within. — Oliver Morton, WIRED, "The Beauty and Madness of Sending a Man to the Moon," 4 June 2019 The production process releases soot into the atmosphere, and the U.S. alone discards millions of tires each year. — Sarah Gibbens, National Geographic, "Before plastic, rubber filled American homes," 20 May 2019 The leftover soot that cakes firefighter uniforms is considered a carcinogen, according to the National Cancer Institute. — Julia Fair, Cincinnati.com, "Retired Covington firefighter dies from melanoma cancer," 25 June 2019 The soot mixed in with the pollen told investigators her surroundings were urban. — Zoë Schlanger, Quartz, "Forensic pollen scientists are helping the US track opioids," 6 June 2019

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