First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1smoke
noun \ˈsmōk\
: the cloud of black, gray, or white gases and dust that is produced by burning something
: a cigarette, cigar, etc. : something that people smoke
: the act of smoking a cigarette, cigar, etc.
Full Definition of SMOKE
1
a : the gaseous products of burning materials especially of organic origin made visible by the presence of small particles of carbon b : a suspension of particles in a gas
2
a : a mass or column of smoke b : smudge
3
: fume or vapor often resulting from the action of heat on moisture
4
: something of little substance, permanence, or value
5
: something that obscures
6
7
a : a pale blue b : any of the colors of smoke
8
: pitches that are fastballs <if a guy's going to hit you…he certainly isn't going to throw a spitter—he gives you smoke — Tony Conigliaro>
— smoke·less \ˈsmō-kləs\ adjective
— smoke·like \ˈsmōk-ˌlīk\ adjective
See smoke defined for English-language learners
See smoke defined for kids
Origin of SMOKE
Middle English, from Old English smoca; akin to Old English smēocan to emit smoke, Middle High German smouch smoke, and probably to Greek smychein to smolder
2smoke
verb
: to suck the smoke from a cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc., into your mouth and lungs and then exhale it
: to produce smoke
: to use smoke to flavor and preserve (food, such as meat, cheese, or fish)
smokedsmok·ing
Full Definition of SMOKE
intransitive verb
1
a : to emit or exhale smoke b : to emit excessive smoke
2
archaic : to undergo punishment : suffer
3
: to spread or rise like smoke
4
: to inhale and exhale the fumes of burning plant material and especially tobacco; especially : to smoke tobacco habitually
transitive verb
1
a : fumigate b : to drive (as mosquitoes) away by smoke c : to blacken or discolor with smoke <smoked glasses> d : to cure by exposure to smoke <smoked ham> e : to stupefy (as bees) by smoke
2
archaic : suspect
3
: to inhale and exhale the smoke of <smoke a cigarette>
4
archaic : ridicule
5
slang : kill 1a
6
slang : to defeat or surpass decisively
7
: to hit (as a baseball) with great force
See smoke defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SMOKE
before 12th century
SMOKING Defined for Kids
1smoke
noun \ˈsmōk\
Definition of SMOKE for Kids
1
: the gas given off by burning materials (as coal, wood, or tobacco) made visible by particles of carbon floating in it
2
: the act of drawing in and blowing out the fumes of burning tobacco
2smoke
verb
smokedsmok·ing
Definition of SMOKE for Kids
1
: to give out smoke <The fire was still smoking.>
2
: to draw in and blow out the fumes of burning tobacco (as in a cigarette)
3
: to expose (as meat) to the fumes of burning materials to give flavor and keep from spoiling
— smok·er noun
Medical Dictionary
smoke
verb \ˈsmōk\
smokedsmok·ing
Medical Definition of SMOKE
intransitive verb
: to inhale and exhale the fumes of burning plant material and especially tobacco; especially : to smoke tobacco habitually
transitive verb
: to inhale and exhale the smoke of <smoked 30 cigarettes a day>
Learn More About SMOKE
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