smoke
B1Neutral, spanning informal to formal contexts depending on usage.
Definition
Meaning
The visible suspension of small particles of carbon, ash, etc. in the air, produced by something burning.
The act of inhaling and exhaling the fumes of burning tobacco or other substances; anything resembling smoke in appearance; a deceptive, insubstantial, or evanescent thing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word can refer to the substance itself ('the room filled with smoke'), the process of producing it ('the fire is smoking'), or the activity of smoking tobacco/drugs. In idioms, it often connotes obscurity, deception, or insubstantiality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English uses 'fag' (informal) for a cigarette, while American English uses 'cig' or 'cigarette'. The phrase 'have a smoke' is more common in AmE. 'Smoke' in the sense of teasing or mocking ('I'm just smoking you') is primarily AmE slang.
Connotations
Similar core connotations. 'Smoke' as a verb for cooking (e.g., smoked salmon) is equally common. In informal AmE, 'smoke' can mean to defeat decisively ('we smoked them at football').
Frequency
The noun and verb are extremely high-frequency in both varieties. Slang and idiomatic extensions may have varying frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] + smoke (intransitive): The chimney was smoking.[S] + smoke + [O] (transitive): He smokes cigars.[S] + smoke + [O] + [Complement]: They smoked the fish dry.[S] + smoke + [O] + out of/from [location]: We smoked the wasps out of the nest.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go up in smoke”
- “where there's smoke there's fire”
- “smoke and mirrors”
- “put that in your pipe and smoke it”
- “smoke someone/something out”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In marketing, 'smoke test' refers to a preliminary test of a product. 'Smoke-filled room' denotes secret political dealing.
Academic
Used in environmental science (air pollution), public health (smoking-related diseases), and chemistry (particulate matter).
Everyday
Discussing cigarettes, fires, barbecues, or describing foggy/misty conditions.
Technical
In computing, 'smoke testing' is basic stability testing. In engineering, 'smoke point' of oils.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could we stop so I can smoke a fag?
- The bonfire is still smoking hours later.
- They smoke kippers in that factory.
American English
- Do you mind if I smoke a cig?
- The grill is smoking, ready for the steaks.
- He totally smoked the competition in the race.
adverb
British English
- The bacon was hanging smoke-cured in the chimney.
American English
- The salmon is smoke-cured over alder wood.
adjective
British English
- We stayed in a smoky old pub.
- I love the smoky flavour of Lapsang tea.
American English
- The law bans smoking in smoky bars.
- She has a smoky voice perfect for jazz.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I don't like the smell of smoke.
- The smoke from the fire is black.
- My father smokes.
- Can you see smoke coming from that window?
- She's trying to give up smoking cigarettes.
- The room was filled with thick smoke.
- The proposal went up in smoke after the budget cuts.
- Archaeologists used smoke to reveal the ancient inscriptions.
- There's no smoke without fire – the rumours must have some basis.
- The politician's explanation was merely smoke and mirrors, designed to obscure the facts.
- They employed a sophisticated smoke screen of misinformation to hide their true intentions.
- The data centre performs a smoke test on all new server deployments.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'SMO'king a KE'bab – the smoke from the grill.
Conceptual Metaphor
SMOKE IS DECEPTION/OBSCURITY ('smoke and mirrors', 'throw up a smoke screen'); SMOKE IS DESTRUCTION/VANISHING ('go up in smoke'); SMOKE IS EVIDENCE ('where there's smoke, there's fire').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- The Russian 'дым' (smoke) and 'курить' (to smoke) have a direct match, but be careful with idioms. 'Smoke break' is 'перекур', not a direct translation. 'Second-hand smoke' is 'пассивное курение'. Avoid calquing 'smoke screen' as 'дымовой экран'; the idiom is 'дымовая завеса'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He made a smoke.' (for 'He had a smoke' or 'He smoked a cigarette'). Incorrect: 'The smoke of the train' (likely 'The steam from the train'). Confusing 'smoky' (adjective) with 'smoked' (participle/adjective for food).
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'smoke and mirrors', what does 'smoke' metaphorically represent?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary meaning is from combustion, it extends to vapour/mist, the act of smoking tobacco, and metaphorical uses for things that are insubstantial or deceptive.
Smoke consists of solid particles and gases from burning. Steam is the gaseous phase of water (water vapour) produced by boiling. They look similar but have different origins.
Yes, but often in compound forms or as a participle. 'Smoky' is the standard adjective (a smoky room). 'Smoked' is used for food (smoked salmon). 'Smoke-free' means without smoke.
It literally means to force someone/thing out of hiding by filling a space with smoke. Figuratively, it means to force someone to reveal themselves or their plans.