Soot is black powder which rises in the smoke from a fire and collects on the inside of chimneys.
... a wall blackened by soot.
soot in British English
(sʊt)
noun
1.
finely divided carbon deposited from flames during the incomplete combustion of organic substances such as coal
verb
2. (transitive)
to cover with soot
Word origin
Old English sōt; related to Old Norse, Middle Low German sōt, Lithuanian sódis, Old Slavonic sažda, Old Irish sūide
soot in American English
(sʊt; sut)
noun
1.
a black substance consisting chiefly of carbon particles formed by the incomplete combustion of burning matter
verb transitive
2.
to cover, soil, or treat with soot
Word origin
ME < OE sot, akin to MDu soet < IE base *sed-, to sit: basic sense “what settles”
Examples of 'soot' in a sentence
soot
The houses were filthy because of dirt and soot from the neighbouring railways.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The air full of smoke and soot must have given rise to our style of singing.
The Sun (2011)
The cub's normally white fur had become covered in soot and grease.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
At the same time, smoke and soot began to enter their auditorium.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Like the rest of the troop, the trio were covered in dust and soot and looked utterly exhausted.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
Wet dust or wet soot acts as a blanket, blocking all radiation from carrying energy either upwards or downwards.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
Brush some soot from the chimney on to the hearth, put on some wellies and press a telltale footprint into the dust.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Dry dust or dry soot acts as an optical filter, blocking sunlight from reaching the ground but allowing heat radiation from the ground to escape into space.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
There was a smell of burning and the air was very, very dense, with what seemed like chimney soot.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
CAN I use chimney soot on my allotment?
The Sun (2011)
POLICE hunting a robber thought Santa had come early when the crook emerged covered in soot from a chimney after hiding there for 11 hours.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
soot
British English: soot /sʊt/ NOUN
Soot is black powder which rises in the smoke from a fire and collects on the inside of chimneys.