white smoke
The term "white smoke" can signify different phenomena, from a visible emission due to combustion to a symbolic signal in specific contexts.
Definition
B2Papal Election
(historical, religious)A signal indicating the election of a new Pope, produced by burning ballots with special chemicals.
Example
- The crowd cheered as white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, announcing the new Pope.
B2Figurative
(figurative)A metaphor for reaching an agreement or decision.
Example
- After hours of negotiation, we finally saw white smoke and reached a deal.
C1Automotive
(technical)An emission from a vehicle's exhaust indicating a potential engine problem, often related to coolant burning.
Example
- White smoke from the exhaust usually means there's a coolant leak in the engine.
B2Firefighting
(technical)A vapor indicating the early stages of a fire, often involving materials like grass or twigs.
Example
- The firefighters saw white smoke, suggesting the fire had just started.
B1General
(common)A visible vapor or gas appearing white due to water vapor or light-colored particles.
Example
- White smoke billowed from the chimney, indicating the fire was burning efficiently.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "white smoke":
white smokersmoke blowersmoke bombwhite stuffwhite gassmoke testsmoke signalsmoke outwhite upblack smoker