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smoke hole

smoke hole

1 7.1
An opening in a roof or wall that lets smoke from a fire escape
  • noun
translation icon : agujero de humo
  • Tendrils of blue smoke drifted up and out through the smoke hole.
  • smoke hole flap

Examples

  • The smoke from the fire went straight up through the smoke hole.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Tiny rivers of ice ran down the sides of the lodge from frost melting around the smoke hole.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • I'm looking for the smoke hole.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The only light came from the smoke hole over the cold hearth.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • "He stared up at the clouds scudding past the smoke hole.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The central space is covered with a dramatic glass structure that is supposed to resemble the smoke holes of tipis.

    Academic text (2004)
  • She pointed at the soot-grimed smoke hole overhead.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "In many kivas, especially those made in rock and lacking a roof entrance, a small smoke hole was drilled."

    Fiction book (1993)
  • When Frank Sam Nakai had finished his summation, they had all sat in silence for a while, watching the fire burn down under the smoke hole.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The smoke escaped through the smoke hole in the roof of the traditional dwelling.

Synonyms

vent
vssmoke hole
155 2.7

An opening in clothing like the back of a jacket that lets air in

is limited to openings in roofs or walls letting smoke escape
air hole
vssmoke hole
1 2.4

A small hole that lets air move through for breathing or ventilation

is used specifically for releasing smoke from a dwelling roof or wall
vent-hole
vssmoke hole
6.5

A small hole that lets gas or air escape

is designed specifically to let smoke out of a dwelling

How Big

smokestack
17 5.3
chimney
131 1.0
flue
5 7.2
smoke hole
1 7.1
vent
155 2.7

Surface Forms

smoke hole singular
smoke holes plural

Morphology

smoke + hole

The meaning 'an opening to allow smoke to escape' is directly and compositionally derived from 'smoke' (visible combustion by-product) + 'hole' (an opening). This straightforward noun+noun referential pattern is common cross‑linguistically and follows ordinary English compounding, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will very likely infer the meaning.

Etymology

Smoke hole is a simple name made from the words smoke and hole. Picture a hole in the top of a house or tent where the fire's smoke goes up and out. That's why the name means 'an opening in the roof or wall to allow smoke to escape'.