soot
1
a black powdery substance produced by burning materials like wood or coal
- The old fireplace emitted a cloud of soot, leaving dark stains on the surrounding walls.
- The chimney sweep removed layers of soot to improve the fireplace's efficiency and reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
- Heavy traffic in urban areas can contribute to elevated levels of soot in the air, affecting air quality.
- Firefighters emerged from the burning building covered in soot after extinguishing the blaze.
- Historic buildings may undergo periodic cleaning to remove accumulated soot from their facades.
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