smoking

Q: What does "smoking" mean?

1. (inhaling tobacco) the habit or act of breathing in smoke from cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. 2. (preserving food) a way of cooking or preserving food like fish or meat using smoke. 3. (giving off smoke) producing smoke because of fire or heat. 4. (very attractive) extremely good-looking or sexually attractive.

Word

01inhaling tobacco

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun

n. the habit or act of breathing in smoke from cigarettes, pipes, or cigars.

n. the act of inhaling and exhaling the fumes of burning tobacco or other substances. Uncountable in its general sense.

“The doctor told him that smoking is very bad for his lungs.”

“Public health campaigns have significantly reduced the prevalence of smoking in indoor environments over the last two decades.”

Usage

Often used as an uncountable noun or a gerund.

Synonyms

tobacco use

02preserving food

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking

n. a way of cooking or preserving food like fish or meat using smoke.

n. the process of curing or flavouring food by exposing it to smoke from burning wood or other materials.

“Traditional smoking gives the salmon a very rich and salty flavour.”

“The artisanal deli specialises in the cold smoking of local meats, a process that takes several days to complete.”

Synonyms

curing preserving

03giving off smoke

B1 · Intermediate

adj. producing smoke because of fire or heat.

adj. emitting smoke as a result of combustion or high temperatures.

“He carefully removed the smoking pan from the hot stove.”

“Firefighters identified the smoking ruins of the warehouse as the primary source of the chemical odour.”

Synonyms

smouldering fuming

Antonyms

extinguished

04very attractive

C1 · Advanced Slang · Informal

adj. extremely good-looking or sexually attractive.

adj. highly physically or sexually attractive. Often used in the phrase 'smoking hot'.

“She looked smoking in that red dress at the party last night.”

“The tabloid media frequently uses 'smoking hot' to describe celebrities on the red carpet.”

Teaching tip

This is very informal and can be seen as objectifying; use with caution in professional or polite settings.

Synonyms

attractive hot stunning

Antonyms

ugly

From Middle English smokynge, smokiende, from Old English smociende (“smoking”), from Proto-Germanic *smukōndz (“emitting smoke, smoking”), equivalent to smoke + -ing.