creosote

[ kree-uh-soht ]

noun

1. an oily liquid having a burning taste and a penetrating odor, obtained by the distillation of coal and wood tar, used mainly as a preservative for wood and as an antiseptic.
2. coal-tar creosote.

verb (used with object)

, cre·o·sot·ed, cre·o·sot·ing.

1. to treat with creosote.

creosote

/ ˈkrɪəˌsəʊt; ˌkrɪəˈsɒtɪk /

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 calledcoal-tar creosote a thick dark liquid mixture prepared from coal tar, containing phenols: used as a preservative for wood

verb

1. to treat (wood) with creosote

creosote

/ krē′ə-sōt′ /

1. A yellow or brown oily liquid obtained from coal tar and used as a wood preservative and disinfectant.
2. A colorless to yellowish oily liquid containing phenols, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, especially from the wood of a beech, and formerly used as an expectorant in treating chronic bronchitis.

Derived Forms

• creosotic, adjective

Other Words From

• cre·o·sot·ic [kree-, uh, -, sot, -ik], adjective
• un·creo·soted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of creosote¹

< German Kreosote (1832) < Greek kreo-, combining form of kréas flesh + sōtēr savior, preserver (in reference to its antiseptic properties)

Word History and Origins

Origin of creosote¹

C19: from Greek kreas flesh + sōtēr preserver, from sōzein to keep safe

Example Sentences

Amid the Joshua trees and creosote bushes, she recorded the sounds of the makeshift foundry.

From Los Angeles Times

Dashiell, 43, steps in close to enjoy a creosote bush’s telltale aroma of black tar and sand after a storm.

From Los Angeles Times

They include creosote bush, desert lavender, apricot mallow, desert bluebells, milkweed and more.

From Los Angeles Times

Most people experience the Mojave’s widely spaced small shrubs and creosote bushes through the windshield of an air-conditioned car as they drive between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

From Los Angeles Times

“A professional chimney sweep can inspect your fireplace and chimney for any damage and clean out any soot or creosote buildup,” she says.

From Seattle Times