Definify.com
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)
- A pale yellow oily liquid, containing phenols and similar compounds, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, once used medicinally.
- A similar brown liquid obtained from coal tar used as a wood preservative.
- (uncountable) The creosote bush.
Translations
liquid obtained from wood or tar
Verb
creosote (third-person singular simple present creosotes, present participle creosoting, simple past and past participle creosoted)
- To apply creosote.
- As the fence is exposed he will creosote it for protection.