Smoke vs. Mist: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 26, 2023
Smoke is a collection of airborne particles from combustion; mist is a collection of tiny water droplets suspended in the air.
Key Differences
Smoke and Mist are atmospheric phenomena but are distinguished by their origin and composition. Smoke emanates from the combustion of materials and is typically composed of a mix of particles, gases, and water vapor, giving it a distinct smell and often a gray or black color. Mist, on the other hand, is formed by the suspension of tiny water droplets in the air and is usually seen when there’s a temperature difference between the air and the nearby surface, generally appearing white or translucent.
While smoke is a byproduct of burning substances and can be hazardous to health due to the presence of toxic particles and chemicals, mist is a natural occurrence and is generally non-hazardous, consisting mainly of water. Smoke can cause air pollution and visibility issues, and prolonged exposure can lead to health problems. Conversely, mist, being water-based, usually does not pose health risks and is a common occurrence in specific weather conditions, especially in areas near water bodies.
Smoke's density and composition can vary, depending on what is being burnt. It can be thick and opaque, obstructing visibility significantly, and often has an acrid smell. In contrast, mist is generally less dense, and visibility through mist depends on the concentration of water droplets, with denser mist reducing visibility more, and it usually doesn’t have a significant smell.
The visibility issues caused by both smoke and mist can be perilous, especially for transportation. The reduced visibility in smoke is often accompanied by the health risk due to inhaling toxic particles, whereas the primary risk with mist is related to its effect on visibility on roads and at sea. While smoke can occur both indoors and outdoors, mist is predominantly an outdoor phenomenon, usually occurring in the mornings or evenings when the temperature changes are most significant.
In summary, the fundamental difference between smoke and mist is that smoke is a result of combustion containing various particles and can be harmful, while mist is composed of water droplets and is usually harmless. They both, however, can significantly reduce visibility depending on their density.
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Comparison Chart
Composition
Composed of particles, gases, and water vapor from combustion.
Composed of tiny water droplets suspended in the air.
Origin
Emanates from the burning of substances.
Formed by the suspension of water droplets in the air.
Health Impact
Can be hazardous due to toxic particles and chemicals.
Generally non-hazardous and consists mainly of water.
Visibility
Can be thick and opaque, significantly obstructing visibility.
Density determines visibility obstruction; usually translucent.
Occurrence
Can occur both indoors and outdoors.
Predominantly an outdoor phenomenon.
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Smoke and Mist Definitions
Smoke
Emitted substance with an odor from burnt items.
The smoke from the barbecue wafted through the air.
Mist
A mass of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere, affecting visibility.
The morning mist covered the hills, creating a mystical landscape.
Smoke
A mixture of gases and small suspended particles of soot or other solids, resulting from the burning of materials such as wood or coal.
Mist
A natural occurrence predominantly outdoors, usually harmless.
The mist rolled in from the sea, enveloping the coastline.
Smoke
A cloud of such gases and suspended particles.
Mist
A weather condition causing reduced visibility due to water droplets.
The mist made driving conditions dangerous on the highway.
Smoke
A vapor, mist, or fume that resembles this.
Mist
A mass of fine droplets of water in the atmosphere near or in contact with the earth.
Smoke
Something insubstantial, unreal, or transitory
"What everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true to-day may turn out to be falsehood to-morrow, mere smoke of opinion" (Henry David Thoreau).
Mist
Water vapor condensed on and clouding the appearance of a surface.
Smoke
The act of smoking a form of tobacco
Went out for a smoke.
Mist
Fine drops of a liquid, such as water, perfume, or medication, sprayed into the air.
Smoke
The duration of this act.
Mist
A suspension of fine drops of a liquid in a gas.
Smoke
(Informal) Tobacco in a form that can be smoked, especially a cigarette
Money to buy smokes.
Mist
Something that dims or conceals.
Smoke
A substance used in warfare to produce a smokescreen.
Mist
A haze before the eyes that blurs the vision.
Smoke
Something used to conceal or obscure.
Mist
Something that produces or gives the impression of dimness or obscurity
The mists of the past.
Smoke
A pale to grayish blue to bluish or dark gray.
Mist
A drink consisting of a liquor served over cracked ice.
Smoke
(Baseball) Pitches thrown at high velocity; fast balls
Threw a lot of smoke in the early innings.
Mist
To be or become obscured or blurred by or as if by mist.
Smoke
To draw in and exhale smoke from a cigarette, cigar, or pipe
It's forbidden to smoke here.
Mist
To rain in a fine shower.
Smoke
To engage in smoking regularly or habitually
He smoked for years before stopping.
Mist
To conceal or veil with or as if with mist.
Smoke
To emit smoke or a smokelike substance
Chimneys smoking in the cold air.
Mist
To moisturize (plants or dry air, for example) with a fine spray of water.
Smoke
To emit smoke excessively
The station wagon smoked even after the tune-up.
Mist
Water or other liquid finely suspended in air. fog, haze.}}
It was difficult to see through the morning mist.
Smoke
To go or proceed at high speed.
Mist
(countable) A layer of fine droplets or particles.
There was an oily mist on the lens.
Smoke
To play or perform energetically
The band was really smoking in the second set.
Mist
(figurative) Anything that dims, darkens, or hinders vision.
Smoke
To draw in and exhale the smoke of (tobacco, for example)
I've never smoked a panatela.
Mist
To form mist.
It's misting this morning.
Smoke
To do so regularly or habitually
I used to smoke filtered cigarettes.
Mist
To spray fine droplets on, particularly of water.
I mist my tropical plants every morning.
Smoke
To preserve (meat or fish) by exposure to the aromatic smoke of burning hardwood, usually after pickling in salt or brine.
Mist
To cover with a mist.
The lens was misted.
Smoke
To fumigate (a house, for example).
Mist
(of the eyes) To be covered by tears.
My eyes misted when I remembered what had happened.
Smoke
To expose (animals, especially insects) to smoke in order to immobilize or drive away.
Mist
To disperse into a mist, accompanying operation of equipment at high speeds.
Smoke
To expose (glass) to smoke in order to darken or change its color.
Mist
Visible watery vapor suspended in the atmosphere, at or near the surface of the earth; fog.
Smoke
To kill; murder.
Mist
Coarse, watery vapor, floating or falling in visible particles, approaching the form of rain; as, Scotch mist.
Smoke
To defeat decisively, as in a competition.
Mist
Hence, anything which dims or darkens, and obscures or intercepts vision.
His passion cast a mist before his sense.
Smoke
(Baseball) To throw (a pitch) at high velocity.
Mist
To cloud; to cover with mist; to dim.
Smoke
(uncountable) The visible vapor/vapour, gases, and fine particles given off by burning or smoldering material.
Mist
To rain in very fine drops; as, it mists.
Smoke
A cigarette.
Can I bum a smoke off you?;
I need to go buy some smokes.
Mist
A thin fog with condensation near the ground
Smoke
Anything to smoke (e.g. cigarettes, marijuana, etc.)
Hey, you got some smoke?
Mist
Become covered with mist;
The windshield misted over
Smoke
An instance of smoking a cigarette, cigar, etc.; the duration of this act.
I'm going out for a smoke.
Mist
Make less visible or unclear;
The stars are obscured by the clouds
Smoke
A fleeting illusion; something insubstantial, evanescent, unreal, transitory, or without result.
The excitement behind the new candidate proved to be smoke.
Mist
Spray finely or cover with mist
Smoke
Something used to obscure or conceal; an obscuring condition; see also smoke and mirrors.
The smoke of controversy.
Mist
A phenomenon caused by the suspension of water particles in the air.
The forest was shrouded in a thick mist.
Smoke
(uncountable) A light grey colour/color tinted with blue.
Mist
Consists of water droplets and appears white or translucent.
The mist hung over the lake in the early dawn light.
Smoke
Bother; problems; hassle.
You better not be giving me no smoke.
Smoke
A particulate of solid or liquid particles dispersed into the air on the battlefield to degrade enemy ground or for aerial observation. Smoke has many uses--screening smoke, signaling smoke, smoke curtain, smoke haze, and smoke deception. Thus it is an artificial aerosol.
Smoke
A fastball.
Smoke
(countable) A distinct column of smoke, such as indicating a burning area or fire.
Smoke
(transitive) To inhale and exhale the smoke from a burning cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc.
Smoke
(intransitive) To inhale and exhale tobacco smoke.
Do you smoke?
Smoke
(intransitive) To give off smoke.
My old truck was still smoking even after the repairs.
Smoke
(intransitive) Of a fire in a fireplace: to emit smoke outward instead of up the chimney, owing to imperfect draught.
Smoke
(transitive) To preserve or prepare (food) for consumption by treating with smoke.
You'll need to smoke the meat for several hours.
Smoke
(transitive) To dry or medicate by smoke.
Smoke
To fill or scent with smoke; hence, to fill with incense; to perfume.
Smoke
To make unclear or blurry.
Smoke
To perform (e.g. music) energetically or skillfully.
The horn section was really smokin' on that last tune.
Smoke
To beat someone at something.
We smoked them at rugby.
Smoke
To kill, especially with a gun.
He got smoked by the mob.
Smoke
To thrash; to beat.
Smoke
To smell out; to hunt out; to find out; to detect.
Smoke
To ridicule to the face; to mock.
Smoke
To burn; to be kindled; to rage.
Smoke
To raise a dust or smoke by rapid motion.
Smoke
To suffer severely; to be punished.
Smoke
To punish (a person) for a minor offense by excessive physical exercise.
Smoke
(transitive) To cover (a key blank) with soot or carbon to aid in seeing the marks made by impressioning.
Smoke
The visible exhalation, vapor, or substance that escapes, or expelled, from a burning body, especially from burning vegetable matter, as wood, coal, peat, or the like.
Smoke
That which resembles smoke; a vapor; a mist.
Smoke
Anything unsubstantial, as idle talk.
Smoke
The act of smoking, esp. of smoking tobacco; as, to have a smoke.
Smoke
To emit smoke; to throw off volatile matter in the form of vapor or exhalation; to reek.
Hard by a cottage chimney smokes.
Smoke
Hence, to burn; to be kindled; to rage.
The anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke agains. that man.
Smoke
To raise a dust or smoke by rapid motion.
Proud of his steeds, he smokes along the field.
Smoke
To draw into the mouth the smoke of tobacco burning in a pipe or in the form of a cigar, cigarette, etc.; to habitually use tobacco in this manner.
Smoke
To suffer severely; to be punished.
Some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.
Smoke
To apply smoke to; to hang in smoke; to disinfect, to cure, etc., by smoke; as, to smoke or fumigate infected clothing; to smoke beef or hams for preservation.
Smoke
To fill or scent with smoke; hence, to fill with incense; to perfume.
Smoke
To smell out; to hunt out; to find out; to detect.
I aloneSmoked his true person, talked with him.
He was first smoked by the old Lord Lafeu.
Upon that . . . I began to smoke that they were a parcel of mummers.
Smoke
To ridicule to the face; to quiz.
Smoke
To inhale and puff out the smoke of, as tobacco; to burn or use in smoking; as, to smoke a pipe or a cigar.
Smoke
To subject to the operation of smoke, for the purpose of annoying or driving out; - often with out; as, to smoke a woodchuck out of his burrow.
Smoke
A cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
Smoke
A hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion;
The fire produced a tower of black smoke that could be seen for miles
Smoke
An indication of some hidden activity;
With all that smoke there must be a fire somewhere
Smoke
Something with no concrete substance;
His dreams all turned to smoke
It was just smoke and mirrors
Smoke
Tobacco leaves that have been made into a cylinder
Smoke
Street names for marijuana
Smoke
The act of smoking tobacco or other substances;
He went outside for a smoke
Smoking stinks
Smoke
(baseball) a pitch thrown with maximum velocity;
He swung late on the fastball
He showed batters nothing but smoke
Smoke
Inhale and exhale smoke from cigarettes, cigars, pipes;
We never smoked marijuana
Do you smoke?
Smoke
Emit a cloud of fine particles;
The chimney was fuming
Smoke
A visible suspension of carbon and other particles in air, typically emitted from burning material.
The smoke from the burning wood was dense and gray.
Smoke
The gaseous byproduct of combustion, usually containing a mix of particles.
The room was filled with smoke after the fire.
Smoke
An airborne mixture, potentially causing air pollution and visibility issues.
The city was blanketed in smoke due to the nearby wildfire.
Smoke
The release of particles and chemicals due to burning.
He coughed as he inhaled the smoke from the cigarette.
FAQs
Is smoke composed of airborne particles from combustion?
Yes, smoke is composed of airborne particles that are products of combustion.
Can smoke be hazardous to health?
Yes, smoke can be hazardous to health due to the presence of toxic particles and chemicals.
Is mist generally non-hazardous?
Yes, mist is generally non-hazardous as it consists mainly of water.
Can smoke occur indoors?
Yes, smoke can occur both indoors and outdoors.
Is mist an outdoor phenomenon?
Mist is predominantly an outdoor phenomenon, usually occurring in specific weather conditions.
Does smoke have an odor?
Yes, smoke often has an acrid or distinctive smell depending on what is being burnt.
Does smoke obstruct visibility?
Yes, smoke can obstruct visibility significantly, depending on its density.
Can prolonged exposure to smoke lead to health problems?
Yes, prolonged exposure to smoke can lead to various health problems due to inhaling toxic particles.
Is mist composed of tiny water droplets suspended in the air?
Yes, mist is composed of tiny water droplets suspended in the air.
Does mist affect visibility?
Yes, mist can affect visibility, with denser mist reducing visibility more.
Is mist seen when there’s a temperature difference between the air and nearby surface?
Yes, mist usually forms when there’s a temperature difference between the air and a nearby surface.
Can the density of smoke vary?
Yes, the density of smoke can vary depending on what is being burnt and under what conditions.
Can smoke cause air pollution?
Yes, smoke can cause air pollution due to the release of particles and chemicals.
Does mist have a significant smell?
No, mist usually doesn’t have a significant smell as it is composed of water droplets.
Is mist a natural occurrence?
Yes, mist is a natural occurrence and is formed by the suspension of water droplets in the air.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
