noun
creosote
A desert shrub with strongly scented, resinous leaves.
The creosote releases a strong scent after the desert rain.
Etymology
Greek kreas and sōzein combine flesh with preserving, behind the chemical preservative’s name. The shrub borrows that chemical name because its resinous odor resembles creosote.
More examples
- Small yellow flowers bloom on the creosote.
- Several creosotes grow beside the dry wash.
- The creosote's resinous leaves feel sticky.
Forms
creosote · creosotes
Similar words
- creosote bush
- Explicitly names the shrub rather than the wood preservative.