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

Aside from potentially being carbon neutral, methanol promises much lower levels of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and soot particles, as well as being biodegradable and easy to store. —New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2025

And Abrams-Draine still managed to emerge with just a few flecks of soot after getting thrown in the fire last season, picking off Justin Herbert in a loss to the Chargers and establishing himself as a building block in a spot start. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025

Verb

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

Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph, in an interview with CalMatters, did not offer any details on how the agency will make up for the voluminous tons of smog-causing gases and soot those rules would have eliminated. —Calmatters, Mercury News, 8 July 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