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Webster 1913 Edition


Creosote

Cre′o-sote

(krē′ō̍-sōt)
,
Noun.
[Gr.
κρέας
, gen.
κρέως
, flesh +
σώζειν
to preserve.]
(Chem.)
Wood-tar oil; an oily antiseptic liquid, of a burning smoky taste, colorless when pure, but usually colored yellow or brown by impurity or exposure. It is a complex mixture of various phenols and their ethers, and is obtained by the distillation of wood tar, especially that of beechwood.
☞ It is remarkable as an antiseptic and deodorizer in the preservation of wood, flesh, etc., and in the prevention of putrefaction; but it is a poor germicide, and in this respect has been overrated. Smoked meat, as ham, owes its preservation and taste to a small quantity of creosote absorbed from the smoke to which it is exposed. is proper, while
creosote
is a mixture of several phenols.
Coal-tar creosote
(Chem.)
,
a colorless or yellow, oily liquid, obtained in the distillation of coal tar, and resembling wood-tar oil, or creosote proper, in composition and properties.

Definition 2024


creosote

creosote

See also: créosote

English

Noun

creosote (countable and uncountable, plural creosotes)

  1. A pale yellow oily liquid, containing phenols and similar compounds, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, once used medicinally.
  2. A similar brown liquid obtained from coal tar used as a wood preservative.
  3. (uncountable) The creosote bush.

Translations

Verb

creosote (third-person singular simple present creosotes, present participle creosoting, simple past and past participle creosoted)

  1. To apply creosote.
    As the fence is exposed he will creosote it for protection.

Translations

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