How Do You Spell SMOOT?

Pronunciation: [smˈuːt] (IPA)

Smoot is a word that can be traced back to Old English. In the modern context, it refers to a unit of length measurement used in surveying, equivalent to 5.5 feet. The spelling of the word can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription, which represents the sounds of language. In this case, the word is spelled /smuːt/, with the "oo" representing the long "u" sound, and the "t" at the end providing a hard stop to the pronunciation. By understanding the phonetics of the word, one can more easily remember and use it in conversation.

SMOOT Meaning and Definition

  1. Smoot is a measurement unit used to quantify distance or length in an unconventional and humorous manner. It originated as a result of a prank performed by a group of MIT students in the 1950s. It is defined as an arbitrary unit of measurement, usually equivalent to the height of Oliver Smoot, one of the students involved in the prank, lying down repeatedly along the Harvard Bridge over the Charles River.

    The smoot is typically used in a humorous context or as an inside joke within the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) community. Although not a recognized unit in formal systems of measurement, it has gained recognition and popularity, especially within the engineering and mathematics fields.

    To measure a distance in smoots, one can divide the total length by the height of Oliver Smoot at the time of measurement. For instance, if a bridge is 100 smoots long, it means the bridge is 100 times the length of Oliver Smoot lying down repeatedly.

    This unconventional unit of measurement demonstrates the creativity and humor present within academic communities. The smoot has become a symbol of the whimsical and lighthearted nature of the MIT culture, showcasing how individuals can inject fun and laughter into the world of science and engineering.

Etymology of SMOOT

The word "smoot" originated from an unusual source. It is derived from the name Oliver R. Smoot, who was an MIT student in the 1950s. In 1958, a fraternity prank involved measuring the Harvard Bridge, which connects Boston to Cambridge, with Smoot's height. They used Smoot's body as a unit of measurement, lying him down repeatedly to span the bridge. The markings were later painted on the bridge, and the term "smoot" became associated with this unit of measurement. The word has since gained popularity, both as a measurement and in various contexts, and has been added to dictionaries.

Similar spelling words for SMOOT

Conjugate verb Smoot

CONDITIONAL

I would smoot
you would smoot
he/she/it would smoot
we would smoot
they would smoot

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be smooting
you would be smooting
he/she/it would be smooting
we would be smooting
they would be smooting

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have smoot
you would have smoot
he/she/it would have smoot
we would have smoot
they would have smoot

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been smooting
you would have been smooting
he/she/it would have been smooting
we would have been smooting
they would have been smooting

FUTURE

I will smoot
you will smoot
he/she/it will smoot
we will smoot
they will smoot

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be smooting
you will be smooting
he/she/it will be smooting
we will be smooting
they will be smooting

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have smooted
you will have smooted
he/she/it will have smooted
we will have smooted
they will have smooted

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been smooting
you will have been smooting
he/she/it will have been smooting
we will have been smooting
they will have been smooting

IMPERATIVE

you smoot
we let´s smoot

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to smoot

PAST

I smooted
you smooted
he/she/it smooted
we smooted
they smooted

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was smooting
you were smooting
he/she/it was smooting
we were smooting
they were smooting

PAST PARTICIPLE

smooted

PAST PERFECT

I had smooted
you had smooted
he/she/it had smooted
we had smooted
they had smooted

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been smooting
you had been smooting
he/she/it had been smooting
we had been smooting
they had been smooting

PRESENT

I smoot
you smoot
he/she/it smoots
we smoot
they smoot

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am smooting
you are smooting
he/she/it is smooting
we are smooting
they are smooting

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

smooting

PRESENT PERFECT

I have smooted
you have smooted
he/she/it has smooted
we have smooted
they have smooted

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been smooting
you have been smooting
he/she/it has been smooting
we have been smooting
they have been smooting