tobacco

word

/təˈbæˌkoʊ/
tuh-BA-koh
/təbˈækəʊ/
tuh-BA-koh

Definition

A plant whose dried leaves are used to make products such as cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco. It can also mean the substance in those products.

Usage & Nuances

Usually uncountable: 'tobacco' not 'a tobacco' when talking about the substance. Common collocations include 'tobacco industry', 'tobacco smoke', 'tobacco products', and 'chewing tobacco'. It is more formal and general than 'cigarettes', which refers to one specific product.

Example Sentences

The store does not sell tobacco to children.

basic

His clothes smelled like tobacco.

basic

Farmers grow tobacco in this region.

basic

The bar still has that old tobacco smell in the walls.

natural

They raised taxes on tobacco products again this year.

natural

My grandfather used to keep loose tobacco in a metal tin.

natural