a dark oily liquid obtained by distillation of coal tar; used as a preservative for wood a colorless or yellowish oily liquid obtained by distillation of wood tar; used as an antiseptic treat with creosote; "creosoted wood
Creosote is a thick dark liquid made from coal tar which is used to prevent wood from rotting. a thick brown oily liquid used for preserving wood (kreosot, from kreas + soter ; because it was used as an antiseptic). Either of two entirely different substances, distilled from coal tar or wood tar. Coal-tar creosote is a complex mixture of organic compounds, largely hydrocarbons. It is a cheap water-insoluble wood preservative used for railroad ties, telephone poles, and marine pier pilings and as a disinfectant, fungicide, and biocide. Wood-tar creosote consists mainly of phenols and related compounds and was once widely used for pharmaceutical purposes