I. ˈkrēəˌsōt, usu -ōd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: German kreosot, from kre- cre- + Greek sōtēr preserver, from sōzein to preserve; akin to Latin tumēre to swell — more at thumb
1. also creasote “ : a colorless or yellowish oily liquid that has a burning smoky taste, contains a mixture of phenolic compounds (as guaiacol), is obtained by the distillation of wood tar, especially that of beechwood, and is used chiefly as an expectorant in chronic bronchitis and as a collector and frother in ore flotation — called also wood creosote
2. : creosote oil 2
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to impregnate (wood) with creosote oil
III. noun
: a dark brown or black flammable tar deposited from especially wood smoke on the walls of a chimney