noun a visual signal indicating the election of a new pope in the Roman Catholic Church
White smoke can be a sign of a smoldering fire or a fire that is just starting to ignite.
White smoke is often produced during chemical reactions that involve the release of gases or vapors.
White smoke from a vehicle's exhaust may indicate a coolant leak or a blown head gasket.
In the context of the election of a new pope, white smoke symbolizes the election of a new pontiff.
White smoke may be used to describe the appearance of steam or vapor coming from cooking food.
In the context of writing, 'white smoke' is often used as a metaphor for inspiration or a breakthrough in creativity. Writers may refer to experiencing 'white smoke' when they have a sudden burst of ideas or when they finally overcome writer's block.
Psychologists may use the term 'white smoke' to describe moments of clarity or insight that clients experience during therapy sessions. It can signify a breakthrough in understanding or a resolution to a long-standing issue.
Chefs in the culinary industry may use 'white smoke' to refer to the visual cue that indicates a dish is properly cooked. For example, when grilling meats, seeing white smoke rising from the grill can indicate that the meat is ready to be flipped or removed from the heat.
In the context of computer programming, 'white smoke' can refer to the process of debugging code. When a programmer successfully identifies and fixes a bug or error in their code, they may say they have 'found the white smoke' signaling that the issue has been resolved.