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REFERENCE

smoke

n. uncountable
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈsmoʊk// UK //smˈəʊk// smoke Archaic General-service Informal Slang

n. the grey or white cloud that rises into the air when something burns. It can also mean the act of smoking a cigarette.

n. the visible suspension of carbon or other particles in air, typically emitted from a burning substance. In informal contexts, it may refer to the act of smoking tobacco or a cigarette itself.


SIMPLE

The thick black smoke rose from the campfire.

CONTEXTUAL

The fire alarm went off because someone left a piece of bread in the toaster until it started to smoke.

COMPLEX

Heavy plumes of industrial smoke drifted across the valley, obscuring the mountain peaks and prompting a local air quality warning for vulnerable residents.

Synonyms
Usage

Uncountable when referring to the atmospheric substance; countable in informal British English when referring to a cigarette ('a smoke').

Idioms10 entries

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