chain-smoke
|chain/smoke|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈtʃeɪnˌsmoʊk/
🇬🇧
/ˈtʃeɪnˌsməʊk/
continuous smoking
Etymology
Etymology Information
'chain-smoke' originates from the English words 'chain' and 'smoke', where 'chain' refers to a series of connected links and 'smoke' refers to the act of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco.
Historical Evolution
'chain-smoke' was formed by combining the words 'chain' and 'smoke' in the 20th century to describe the act of smoking one cigarette after another.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to smoke in succession,' and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to smoke cigarettes continuously, lighting a new one from the end of the last.
He tends to chain-smoke when he's stressed.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/23 00:04