smoke
UK[sməʊk]US[smoʊk]
n
the grey, black, or white gas produced by something burning
v
to breathe in smoke from a cigarette, pipe, etc., and then breathe it out
v
to preserve food by treating it with smoke from burning wood
Etymology
the word 'smoke' descends directly from the old english 'smoca', a noun, and the related verb 'smocian'. these old english terms have cognates across the germanic languages, such as old high german 'smouch' and middle dutch 'smoke', pointing to a common proto-germanic ancestor. the core concept has remained remarkably stable from its ancient origins to modern english, consistently denoting the visible gaseous product of combustion. its journey represents a straightforward transmission of a fundamental sensory experience—the sight and smell of burning matter—from the ancient germanic world into contemporary usage.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form derived from old english 'smoca' (noun) and 'smocian' (verb). it is of germanic origin.
Examples
a column of thick, black smoke rose from the factory chimney.
he stepped outside to smoke a cigarette.
the fishermen traditionally smoke the herring over oak chips.