Creosote

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Creosote \Cre"o*sote\ (kr[=e]"[-o]*s[=o]t), n. [Gr. kre`as, gen.
     kre`ws, flesh + sw`zein to preserve.] (Chem.)
     Wood-tar oil; an oily antiseptic liquid, of a burning smoky
     taste, colorless when pure, but usually colored yellow or
     brown by impurity or exposure. It is a complex mixture of
     various phenols and their ethers, and is obtained by the


     distillation of wood tar, especially that of beechwood.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: It is remarkable as an antiseptic and deodorizer in the
           preservation of wood, flesh, etc., and in the
           prevention of putrefaction; but it is a poor germicide,
           and in this respect has been overrated. Smoked meat, as
           ham, owes its preservation and taste to a small
           quantity of creosote absorbed from the smoke to which
           it is exposed. {Carbolic acid} is {phenol[1]} proper,
           while creosote is a mixture of several phenols.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Coal-tar creosote} (Chem.), a colorless or yellow, oily
        liquid, obtained in the distillation of coal tar, and
        resembling wood-tar oil, or creosote proper, in
        composition and properties.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Creosote \Cre"o*sote\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Creosoted}
     (-s?"t?d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Creosoting}.]
     To saturate or impregnate with creosote, as timber, for the
     prevention of decay.

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  creosote
       n 1: a colorless or yellowish oily liquid obtained by
            distillation of wood tar; used as an antiseptic
       2: a dark oily liquid obtained by distillation of coal tar;
          used as a preservative for wood [syn: {coal-tar creosote}]
       v : treat with creosote; "creosoted wood"