DictionaryAI

smoke

SaySMOHK/smoʊk/UK/sməʊk/

Pluralsmokes (some meanings)

Verbsmokes, smoking, smoked

26 meanings of smoke

Practice

  1. 1
    noununcountable
    The gray or black cloud that rises from something burning. Also, one rising cloud of it.

    Like the gray cloud that floats up when you blow out a candle.

    Thick smoke filled the kitchen when the toast burned.

    We saw smoke rising from the campfire across the lake.

    UsageSay smoke or a cloud of smoke: smoke filled the room.

    Similarfumes

  2. 2
    verbtransitive
    To breathe in and blow out smoke from a cigarette, cigar, pipe, or something else that is burning.

    He likes to smoke a pipe in the evening.

    She smoked a thin cigarette by the open window.

    UsageHe smokes means he has the habit of smoking.

    Similarpuff

  3. 3
    verbintransitive
    To send out smoke, for example when something is burning or a fireplace doesn't draw well.

    The old engine began to smoke as it climbed the hill.

    Wet logs smoke a lot before they catch fire.

    Similarsmolder, fume

    Note
  4. 4
    nouncolloquialcountable
    A short break to smoke a cigarette, or the time it takes.

    He went outside for a smoke before the meeting started.

    She took a quick smoke during her break.

    UsageSay have a smoke or go out for a smoke.

    Similarcigarette, drag, puff

    Note
  5. 5
    nouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
    A cigarette, or anything people smoke, such as tobacco or marijuana.

    She asked if anyone had a spare smoke.

    They ran out of smokes on the camping trip.

  6. 6
    nouncountable or uncountable
    A thick cloud released in battle to hide soldiers or to send signals.

    Like a thick fog that hides everything behind it.

    The soldiers used smoke to cover their retreat across the open field.

    Bright signal smoke rose from the hilltop to mark the meeting point.

    Note
  7. 7
    noununcountable
    Any cloud in the air that looks like smoke, such as mist, steam, dust, or pollen.

    Before the band came out, a machine filled the stage with smoke.

    When the teacher opened the two bottles side by side, white smoke appeared between them.

    UsageSay a cloud of smoke or a puff of smoke.

    Similarfog, mist, vapor, haze, cloud

    Note
  8. 8
    verbtransitive
    To treat food or other things with smoke, especially to give food flavor or keep it from going bad.

    Like leaving meat in a smoky room until it dries out.

    They smoke fish over an open fire to keep it from spoiling.

    He smoked the salmon over a slow fire for hours.

    UsageOften smoked: smoked fish, smoked cheese.

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of smoke apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 4–7, 9, 11, 13, 15–16

From Old English smoca, meaning "smoke." It probably came from the verb.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Meanings 2–3, 8, 10, 12, 14, 17–21

From Old English smocian, meaning "to smoke" or "to give off smoke." It goes back through Germanic roots to an ancient Proto-Indo-European word for "to smoke."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts