smoking
- 01 A2 Elementary
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.
Simple“The doctor told him that smoking is very bad for his lungs.”
In context“Public health campaigns have significantly reduced the prevalence of smoking in indoor environments over the last two decades.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun or a gerund.
Synonymstobacco use - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“Traditional smoking gives the salmon a very rich and salty flavour.”
In context“The artisanal deli specialises in the cold smoking of local meats, a process that takes several days to complete.”
Synonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
adj.producing smoke because of fire or heat.
adj.emitting smoke as a result of combustion or high temperatures.
Simple“He carefully removed the smoking pan from the hot stove.”
In context“Firefighters identified the smoking ruins of the warehouse as the primary source of the chemical odour.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
adj.extremely good-looking or sexually attractive.
adj.highly physically or sexually attractive. Often used in the phrase 'smoking hot'.
Simple“She looked smoking in that red dress at the party last night.”
In context“The tabloid media frequently uses 'smoking hot' to describe celebrities on the red carpet.”
Teacher's tipThis is very informal and can be seen as objectifying; use with caution in professional or polite settings.
SynonymsAntonyms
From Middle English smokynge, smokiende, from Old English smociende (“smoking”), from Proto-Germanic *smukōndz (“emitting smoke, smoking”), equivalent to smoke + -ing.
From Middle English smokyng, smokynge, equivalent to smoke + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.