charcoal

[chahr-kohl]

noun

1. the carbonaceous material obtained by heating wood or other organic substances in the absence of air.

2. a drawing pencil of charcoal.

3. a drawing made with charcoal.

verb (used with object)

1. to blacken, write, or draw with charcoal.

2. to cook (food) over charcoal, especially on a grill.

verb (used without object)

1. to cook food over charcoal, especially on a grill.

charcoal

/ ˈtʃɑːˌkəʊl /

noun

1. a black amorphous form of carbon made by heating wood or other organic matter in the absence of air: used as a fuel, in smelting metal ores, in explosives, and as an absorbent See activated carbon

2. a stick or pencil of this for drawing

3. a drawing done in charcoal

4. short for charcoal grey

verb

1. (tr) to write, draw, or blacken with charcoal

charcoal

1. A black porous form of carbon produced by heating wood or bone in little or no air. Charcoal is used as a fuel, for drawing, and in air and water filters.

Other Word Forms

• charcoaly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of charcoal¹

1300–50; Middle English charcole, perhaps cherre char ³ + cole coal, though literal sense of the compound is unclear

Word History and Origins

Origin of charcoal¹

C14: from char (origin obscure) + _coal

Example Sentences

She says she also taught them "survival skills" – including how to filter water with charcoal to make it safer to use.

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Somehow, he had managed to get his hands on the ingredients for gunpowder - potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal.

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The country's environment ministry believes the fire broke out on Monday at a charcoal production outside the park's borders.

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There are at least two barbecues, one propane, one charcoal.

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Many of her supplies were cindered, but she found some black charcoal paper and pastels and “started doing these bizarre drawings, like stream-of-consciousness stuff.”

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