¹creosote

noun cre·o·sote \ˈkrē-ə-ˌsōt\

: a brown, oily liquid used to keep wood from rotting

Full Definition of CREOSOTE

: a clear or yellowish flammable oily liquid mixture of phenolic compounds obtained by the distillation of tar derived from wood and especially from beech wood

: a brownish oily liquid consisting chiefly of aromatic hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of coal tar and used especially as a wood preservative

: a dark brown or black flammable tar deposited from especially wood smoke on the walls of a chimney

: creosote bush

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Origin of CREOSOTE

German Kreosot, from Greek kreas flesh + sōtēr preserver, from sōzein to preserve, from sōs safe (probably akin to Sanskrit tavīti he is strong); from its antiseptic properties — more at raw

First Known Use: 1835

²creosote

verb

creosot·edcreosot·ing

Definition of CREOSOTE

transitive verb

: to treat with creosote

First Known Use of CREOSOTE

1836

Medical Dictionary

creosote

noun cre·o·sote \ˈkrē-ə-ˌsōt\

Medical Definition of CREOSOTE

: a clear or yellowish flammable oily liquid mixture of phenolic compounds obtained by the distillation of wood tar especially from beech wood and used especially as a disinfectant and as an expectorant in chronic bronchitis

: a brownish oily liquid consisting chiefly of aromatic hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of coal tar and used especially as a wood preservative