from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Smoke \Smoke\ (sm[=o]k), n. [AS. smoca, fr. sme['o]can to smoke;
akin to LG. & D. smook smoke, Dan. sm["o]g, G. schmauch, and
perh. to Gr. ??? to burn in a smoldering fire; cf. Lith.
smaugti to choke.]
1. The visible exhalation, vapor, or substance that escapes,
or expelled, from a burning body, especially from burning
vegetable matter, as wood, coal, peat, or the like.
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Note: The gases of hydrocarbons, raised to a red heat or
thereabouts, without a mixture of air enough to produce
combustion, disengage their carbon in a fine powder,
forming smoke. The disengaged carbon when deposited on
solid bodies is soot.
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2. That which resembles smoke; a vapor; a mist.
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3. Anything unsubstantial, as idle talk. --Shak.
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4. The act of smoking, esp. of smoking tobacco; as, to have a
smoke. [Colloq.]
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Note: Smoke is sometimes joined with other word. forming
self-explaining compounds; as, smoke-consuming,
smoke-dried, smoke-stained, etc.
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{Smoke arch}, the smoke box of a locomotive.
{Smoke ball} (Mil.), a ball or case containing a composition
which, when it burns, sends forth thick smoke.
{Smoke black}, lampblack. [Obs.]
{Smoke board}, a board suspended before a fireplace to
prevent the smoke from coming out into the room.
{Smoke box}, a chamber in a boiler, where the smoke, etc.,
from the furnace is collected before going out at the
chimney.
{Smoke sail} (Naut.), a small sail in the lee of the galley
stovepipe, to prevent the smoke from annoying people on
deck.
{Smoke tree} (Bot.), a shrub ({Rhus Cotinus}) in which the
flowers are mostly abortive and the panicles transformed
into tangles of plumose pedicels looking like wreaths of
smoke.
{To end in smoke}, to burned; hence, to be destroyed or
ruined; figuratively, to come to nothing.
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Syn: Fume; reek; vapor.
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