# smoking

/ˈsmoʊkɪŋ/ (US) · /smˈəʊkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/smoking
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. inhaling tobacco

noun · CEFR A2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. preserving food

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. giving off smoke

adjective · CEFR B1

producing smoke because of fire or heat.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. very attractive

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

extremely good-looking or sexually attractive.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Smoking is not allowed inside the building.
- Many countries have passed laws to ban smoking in public places like restaurants and parks.
- Public health campaigns have successfully reduced the prevalence of smoking by highlighting the link between long-term tobacco use and various respiratory diseases.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.