Meaning & Definition of word "Soot"

Soot

/sʊt/

1. A black powdery or flaky substance produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter, primarily found as a residue in chimneys or on surfaces.
- Example: After a long winter of using the fireplace, the chimney was lined with soot.
2. The carbonaceous material that is a byproduct of combustion, often found in the atmosphere as pollution.
- Example: The city was grappling with air quality issues due to the high levels of soot from vehicle emissions.
3. A dark or dull black color.
- Example: The artist used a soot-like pigment to create the dark areas in the painting.

Middle English 'sote', from Old English 'sōta', related to the act of soot-forming.

sweeping the soot:

to clean or remove the dirt and grime, especially from a fireplace or chimney.

smoke:

the visible vapor and gases given off by burning or smoldering substances.

carbon:

a chemical element found in soot and many organic compounds.

flame:

the visible, gaseous part of a fire.

Meaning: to mess up or dirty something.

Example Sentence: Stop soot-ing up my new car with your dirty shoes!