|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
creosote
creosote , volatile, heavy, oily liquid obtained by the distillation of coal tar or wood tar. Creosote derived from beechwood tar has been used medicinally as an antiseptic and in the treatment of chronic bronchitis. Creosote obtained from coal tar is poisonous. It is used chiefly as a preservative for wood, e.g., in fence posts, railroad ties, and telephone poles, in which it provides protection against fungi, shipworms, and termites, and is also used as a pesticide and to treat psoriasis. Creosote is considered to be highly toxic and a likely carcinogen. It can leach out into the surrounding soil and groundwater, and the fumes exuded will kill young plants in close proximity. |
|
|
Cite this article
"creosote." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "creosote." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-creosote.html "creosote." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-creosote.html |
|
creosote
cre·o·sote / ˈkrēəˌsōt/ • n. (also creosote oil) a dark brown oil distilled from coal tar and used as a wood preservative. It contains a number of phenols, cresols, and other organic compounds. ∎ a colorless, pungent, oily liquid, containing creosol and other compounds, distilled from wood tar and used as an antiseptic. • v. [tr.] treat (wood) with creosote. |
|
|
Cite this article
"creosote." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "creosote." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-creosote.html "creosote." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-creosote.html |
|
creosote
creosote XIX. — G. kreosote, f. Gr. kreo-, kreō-, comb. form of kréas flesh + sōtḗr saviour, sōtēríā safety, with ref. to the antiseptic properties.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "creosote." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "creosote." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-creosote.html T. F. HOAD. "creosote." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-creosote.html |
|
creosote
creosote
•afloat, bloat, boat, capote, coat, connote, cote, dote, emote, float, gloat, goat, groat, misquote, moat, mote, note, oat, outvote, promote, quote, rote, shoat, smote, stoat, Succoth, table d'hôte, Terre Haute, throat, tote, vote, wrote
•flatboat
•mailboat, sailboat, whaleboat
•speedboat • keelboat
•dreamboat, steamboat
•lifeboat • iceboat • longboat
•sauceboat • houseboat
•rowboat, showboat
•U-boat • tugboat • gunboat
•powerboat • motorboat • riverboat
•workboat • Haggadoth • anecdote
•scapegoat • redingote • nanny goat
•zygote • redcoat • tailcoat • raincoat
•waistcoat • greatcoat • petticoat
•topcoat • housecoat • undercoat
•entrecôte • surcoat • turncoat
•matelote • banknote • headnote
•endnote • keynote • woodnote
•footnote • compote • whitethroat
•shofroth • bluethroat • cut-throat
•creosote • mitzvoth • mezuzoth
|
|
|
Cite this article
"creosote." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "creosote." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-creosote.html "creosote." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-creosote.html |
|