cigarette

cigarette — noun

1. a narrow roll of paper containing chopped tobacco leaves, which people set aligh

1.nounA2
Definition

a narrow roll of paper containing chopped tobacco leaves, which people set alight to breathe in the smoke

Example

Theo lit a cigarette and stood outside the café, watching the rain fall.

collocation: lit a cigarette

Aiko pulled a cigarette from the pack and asked a stranger for a light.

pack of cigarettes; asked for a light

Synonyms
  • smoke

    informal, countable — 'Do you have a smoke?' means 'Do you have a cigarette?' British English.

  • cig

    very informal slang, mostly British and Australian English. 'Pass us a cig.'

  • fag

    slang, British English. Can cause offence in other varieties; American English uses fag as a slur.

Grammar Patterns

a cigarette / the cigarette / cigarettes (plural)

pack of cigarettes

Usage Note

Commonly paired with smoke (verb), light (verb), and pack of (quantifier). Cigarette butt refers to the leftover end that is thrown away.

Common Mistakes

I need a fire for my cigarette.
I need a light for my cigarette.
fire is too general; a light (a match or lighter) is the correct word.
I smoked a whole pack of cigar.' (meaning cigarette)
I smoked a whole pack of cigarettes.
a cigar is a different, larger tobacco product wrapped in tobacco leaf.

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • pack of cigarettes
  • cigarette butt
  • cigarette lighter
  • cigarette smoke
  • cigarette brand

Prepositions

  • of (a pack of cigarettes)
  • in (cigarette in the ashtray)
  • from (pulled a cigarette from the pack)