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

A built-in fire starter makes lighting lump charcoal painless, while an integrated fan keeps the temperature steady anywhere between 225 and 700 degrees.

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“Self-care is important,” the monster responds in a voice that sounds like it brushes with charcoal and gargles with rocks each morning.

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“Pocket has cake crumbs, charcoal pencil, tuppence. No book.”

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Father and some of the other workers used animal fat and charcoal to draw the shape of the obelisk on the granite.

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Georgia O’Keeffe had already captured the public’s attention with her charcoal drawings and flower paintings.

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