Creosote is a thick dark liquid made from coal tar which is used to prevent wood from rotting.
creosote in British English
(ˈkrɪəˌsəʊt)
noun
1.
a colourless or pale yellow liquid mixture with a burning taste and penetrating odour distilled from wood tar, esp from beechwood, contains creosol and other phenols, and is used as an antiseptic
2. Also called: coal-tar creosote
a thick dark liquid mixture prepared from coal tar, containing phenols: used as a preservative for wood
verb
3.
to treat (wood) with creosote
Derived forms
creosotic (ˌkrɪəˈsɒtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from Greek kreas flesh + sōtēr preserver, from sōzein to keep safe
creosote in American English
(ˈkriəˌsoʊt)
noun
1.
a transparent, oily liquid with a pungent odor, obtained by the distillation of wood tar and used as an antiseptic
2.
a black, oily liquid with a pungent odor, obtained by the distillation of coal tarand used as a wood preservative
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcreoˌsoted or ˈcreoˌsoting
3.
to treat (wood, etc.) with creosote
Word origin
Ger kreosot < Gr kreas (gen. kreōs), flesh (see crude) + sōtēr, savior < sōzein, to save, preserve < IE base *teu-, to swell (> tumor); so named (1832) by K. v. Reichenbach (1788-1869), Ger scientist
Examples of 'creosote' in a sentence
creosote
Of fear mingled with the high whiff of disinfectants, of chloride and creosote.
Appiganesi, Lisa DREAMS OF INNOCENCE (2003)
The light of a summer afternoon blinds the wall, whitens the cobbles in the yard and bakes the creosote on the garage planks.
Dexter Petley WHITE LIES (2003)
Even now, dressed in shabby jeans and a torn shirt and smelling strongly of creosote, she was lovely.