creosote

Coined in 1832 by Carl Reichenbach as German Kreosot, a learned formation from Ancient Greek κρέας (kréas, “flesh”) + σωτήρ (sōtḗr, “preserver”), after the substance's antiseptic quality. Adopted in English by 1835.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɹiːəˌsəʊt/

• Audio (Southern England)

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɹiːəˌsoʊt/

creosote (countable and uncountable, plural creosotes)

1. A pale yellow oily liquid, containing phenols and similar compounds, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, once used medicinally.
2. A similar brown liquid obtained from coal tar used as a wood preservative.
3. (countable) The creosote bush.
   • 1994, John Alcock, Sonoran Desert Summer, page 88:

     On Shaw Butte, as elsewhere in the Phoenix area, creosotes are abundant, producing a plethora of small yellow flowers in late March and April.

creosote (third-person singular simple present creosotes, present participle creosoting, simple past and past participle creosoted)

1. To apply creosote.

   As the fence is exposed he will creosote it for protection.

   • 1907, E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part I, III [Uniform ed., p. 45]:

     Agnes was leaning over the creosoted garden gate …

• creosote bush

• e-scooter

creosote

1. inflection of creosotar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative