SMOKING

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does smoking mean? 

• SMOKING (noun)
  The noun SMOKING has 2 senses:

1. the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

2. a hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion

  Familiarity information: SMOKING used as a noun is rare.

• SMOKING (adjective)
  The adjective SMOKING has 1 sense:

1. emitting smoke in great volume

  Familiarity information: SMOKING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SMOKING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of smoking tobacco or other substances

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

smoke; smoking

Context example:

smoking stinks

Hypernyms ("smoking" is a kind of...):

breathing; external respiration; respiration; ventilation (the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation)

Meronyms (parts of "smoking"):

drag; puff; pull (a slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "smoking"):

puffing (blowing tobacco smoke out into the air)

Derivation:

smoke (inhale and exhale smoke from cigarettes, cigars, pipes)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

smoke; smoking

Context example:

the fire produced a tower of black smoke that could be seen for miles

Hypernyms ("smoking" is a kind of...):

evaporation; vapor; vaporisation; vaporization; vapour (the process of becoming a vapor)

Derivation:

smoke (emit a cloud of fine particles)

• SMOKING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Emitting smoke in great volume

Context example:

a smoking fireplace

Similar:

smoky (marked by or emitting or filled with smoke)

 Context examples 

Then he lit his pipe and sat for some time smoking and turning them over.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A substance that is used to treat depression, and to help people quit smoking.

(Bupropion, NCI Dictionary)

Risk factors for developing bladder cancer include smoking and exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace.

(Bladder Cancer, NIH: National Cancer Institute)

I should not sit here smoking with you if I thought that you were a common criminal, you may be sure of that.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is also used to help people stop smoking.

(Bupropion hydrochloride, NCI Dictionary)

It develops over many years and is usually caused by cigarette smoking.

(Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, NCI Dictionary)

Cigarette smoking is the most common cause.

(Chronic Bronchitis, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

It is also being studied in the treatment of certain types of cancer pain and as an aid to stop smoking.

(Catapres, NCI Dictionary)

Smoking, lack of physical activity, and depression are other risk factors.

(Cardiac Rehabilitation, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Many factors can affect your heart's rhythm, such as having had a heart attack, smoking, congenital heart defects, and stress.

(Arrhythmia, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)