Meaning & use
smokestacks
Last updated
“smokestacks” is a form of “smokestack”.
Meaning
nouncountable
Tall chimneys on factories, ships, or trains that release smoke and gases.
Grammar: Countable noun; usually used in the plural when referring to multiple chimneys.
The old factory had two tall smokestacks that could be seen from miles away.
Smokestacks from the ships released thick black smoke into the sky.
Environmental regulations require smokestacks to have filters to reduce pollution.
Word forms
| singular | smokestack |
|---|
Common combinations
- factory smokestacks
- The factory smokestacks were painted red and white.
- tall smokestacks
- Tall smokestacks rose above the industrial skyline.
- smokestack industry
- The region's economy relied on smokestack industries like steel and coal.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- smokestack noun
- The singular form; one such chimney.
Practice
The old steamship had a tall black ______ that released steam and smoke.
Choose one answer.
Smokestack is the most precise term for a ship's tall chimney, though 'funnel' is also used. 'Chimney' is more common for houses, and 'pipe' is too general.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “smokestacks”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.