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Creosote
Definitions
- 1 A pale yellow oily liquid, containing phenols and similar compounds, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, once used medicinally. countable, uncountable
- 2 a dark oily liquid obtained by distillation of coal tar; used as a preservative for wood wordnet
- 3 A similar brown liquid obtained from coal tar used as a wood preservative. countable, uncountable
- 4 a colorless or yellowish oily liquid obtained by distillation of wood tar; used as an antiseptic wordnet
- 5 The creosote bush. countable
"On Shaw Butte, as elsewhere in the Phoenix area, creosotes are abundant, producing a plethora of small yellow flowers in late March and April."
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- 6 A flammable black porous brittle glassy byproduct of wood burning, typically formed inside chimneys. countable, uncountable
- 1 To apply creosote. transitive
"As the fence is exposed he will creosote it for protection."
- 2 treat with creosote wordnet
Etymology
From German Kreosot in 1935, coined in 1832 by German natural philosopher Carl Ludwig, Baron Reichenbach, from Ancient Greek κρέας (kréas, “flesh”) + σωτήρ (sōtḗr, “preserver”) for its use as an antiseptic and meat-preservative. Creosote-bush named after its scent. By surface analysis, creo- + -sote.
From German Kreosot in 1935, coined in 1832 by German natural philosopher Carl Ludwig, Baron Reichenbach, from Ancient Greek κρέας (kréas, “flesh”) + σωτήρ (sōtḗr, “preserver”) for its use as an antiseptic and meat-preservative. Creosote-bush named after its scent. By surface analysis, creo- + -sote.
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