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cre·o·sote

(krēə-sōt′)

1. A colorless to yellowish oily liquid containing phenols and creosols, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, especially from the wood of a beech, and formerly used as an expectorant in treating chronic bronchitis.

2. A yellowish to greenish-brown oily liquid containing phenols and creosols, obtained from coal tar and used as a wood preservative and formerly as a disinfectant. It can cause severe neurological disturbances if inhaled in strong concentrations.

3. A blackish residue formed, as on the inside of a flue, through condensation of volatile compounds released by incomplete combustion of wood or other fuel.

tr.v. cre·o·sot·ed, cre·o·sot·ing, cre·o·sotes

To treat or paint with coal-based creosote.

[German Kreosot : Greek kreas, flesh; see kreuə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + Greek sōtēr, preserver (from sōzein, to save; see teuə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices