char

[ chahr ]

See synonyms for char on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),charred, char·ring.

to burn or reduce to charcoal: The fire charred the paper.
to burn slightly; scorch: The flame charred the steak.

verb (used without object),charred, char·ring.

to become charred.

noun

a charred material or surface.
charcoal (def. 1).

a superior carbon-rich fuel, a by-product of the conversion of coal into gaseous or liquid fuel.

Origin of char

First recorded in 1670–80; apparently extracted from charcoal; see chark

Other words for char

2	singe, sear

See synonyms for char on Thesaurus.com

Words Nearby char

Other definitions for char (2 of 6)

char²

or charr

[ chahr ]

noun,plural (especially collectively) char, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) chars.

any trout of the genus Salvelinus (or Cristovomer), especially the Arctic char.

Origin of char

First recorded in 1655–65; perhaps unattested Old English ceorra literally, “turner,” derivative of ceorran “to turn,” it being thought of as swimming to and fro time and again; see char³

Other definitions for char (3 of 6)

char³

[ chahr ]

noun

a charwoman.
a task, especially a household chore.

chars, odd jobs, especially of housework, for which one is paid by the hour or day.

verb (used without object),charred, char·ring.

to work at housecleaning by the day or hour; hire oneself out to do odd jobs.

verb (used with object),charred, char·ring.

to do (housework, odd jobs, or chores); clean or repair.

Origin of char

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, Old English cerr, cierr “turn, time, occasion, affair,” derivative of cierran “to turn”

Other definitions for char (4 of 6)

char⁴

[ chahr ]

nounBritish Informal.

tea.

Origin of char

⁴

First recorded in 1915–20; from Hindi cā “tea” (see tea); for spelling with r cf. arvo, Parcheesi

Other definitions for Char (5 of 6)

Char

[ shar ]

noun

Re·né [ruh-ney], /rəˈneɪ/, 1907–1988, French poet.

Other definitions for char. (6 of 6)

char.

abbreviation

character.
charter.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use char in a sentence

A nice char on the vegetables will get deeper flavor in your stock.
An aromatic chicken soup to restore the body and revive the spirit | Olga Massov | January 7, 2021 | Washington Post
For a moment, things appear to be going well … and then Walker reaches into his bag and chars your ankles as Williams flips the screen and creates a wide open free-throw-line jumper.
Give Boston’s Kemba Walker A Double Pick And Watch Him Work | Michael Pina | August 31, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight
My last bar was a place in Brooklyn called char No 4, which is known for being a strong whisky bar.
A Whisky Connoisseur Remembers That First Sip of The Macallan | | December 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Also, make sure to try their cheeseburger, which “forever raised the bar on what a classic char-burger can taste like.”
Best Broncos and Seahawks Bars to Watch Super Bowl XLVIII | Justin Jones | January 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The arctic char eyeball, on the other hand, which I had the day after—a raw eyeball is a whole other matter.
How to Think With Your Gut | Mindy Farabee | April 9, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

For the adventurous, try the reindeer or puffin; for those feeling fishy, go for arctic char or the array of sushi.
Gal With a Suitcase | Jolie Hunt | November 13, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
These cigars rarely "char" in burning; certainly not, if made of good quality of tobacco and thoroughly sweat.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.
There was a passion to her kiss that he had never felt before, a rising tide of flame that threatened to char him.
Pagan Passions | Gordon Randall Garrett
The party finally mounted the char-a-bancs, just as I was about to offer the baby for twenty-five pounds, and dirt cheap at that.
Penelope's English Experiences | Kate Douglas Wiggin
She stared, surprised; but char still kept the door until his master showed himself in the lighted aperture.
The Second Latchkey | Charles Norris Williamson and Alice Muriel Williamson
Later char went off in the car again, though it poured with rain, and was gone until late at night.
The Second Latchkey | Charles Norris Williamson and Alice Muriel Williamson

British Dictionary definitions for char (1 of 4)

char¹

/ (tʃɑː) /

verbchars, charring or charred

to burn or be burned partially, esp so as to blacken the surface; scorch
(tr) to reduce (wood) to charcoal by partial combustion

Origin of char

C17: short for charcoal

British Dictionary definitions for char (2 of 4)

char²

charr

/ (tʃɑː) /

nounplural char, chars, charr or charrs

any of various troutlike fishes of the genus Salvelinus, esp S. alpinus, occurring in cold lakes and northern seas: family Salmonidae (salmon)

Origin of char

C17: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for char (3 of 4)

char³

/ (tʃɑː) /

noun

informal short for charwoman

verbchars, charring or charred

British informal to do housework, cleaning, etc, as a job

Origin of char

C18: from Old English cerr

British Dictionary definitions for char (4 of 4)

char⁴

/ (tʃɑː) /

noun

British a slang word for tea

Origin of char

⁴

from Chinese ch'a

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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