creosote
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
See also: créosote
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Coined in 1832 by Carl Reichenbach as German Kreosot, a learned formation from Ancient Greek κρέας (kréas, “flesh”) + σωτήρ (sōtḗr, “preserver”), after the substance's antiseptic quality. Adopted in English by 1835.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
creosote (countable and uncountable, plural creosotes)
- A pale yellow oily liquid, containing phenols and similar compounds, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, once used medicinally.
- A similar brown liquid obtained from coal tar used as a wood preservative.
- 1907, E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part I, III [Uniform ed., p. 45]:
- Agnes was leaning over the creosoted garden gate …
- 1907, E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part I, III [Uniform ed., p. 45]:
- (countable) The creosote bush.
- 1994, John Alcock, Sonoran Desert Summer (page 88)
- On Shaw Butte, as elsewhere in the Phoenix area, creosotes are abundant, producing a plethora of small yellow flowers in late March and April.
- 1994, John Alcock, Sonoran Desert Summer (page 88)
Translations[edit]
liquid obtained from wood or tar
Verb[edit]
creosote (third-person singular simple present creosotes, present participle creosoting, simple past and past participle creosoted)
- To apply creosote.
- As the fence is exposed he will creosote it for protection.
Translations[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Anagrams[edit]
Spanish[edit]
Verb[edit]
creosote
- First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of creosotar.
- Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of creosotar.
- Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of creosotar.
- Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of creosotar.