charcoal

American  

[chahr-kohl] / ˈtʃɑrˌkoʊl /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

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

charcoal Scientific  

/ chär′kōl′ /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• charcoaly adjective

Etymology

Origin of charcoal

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

Example Sentences

After India restricted LPG supplies this month, catering companies were forced to prune their offerings for weddings and other parties—or find other fuels, such as charcoal and wood.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

To better understand past fire activity, researchers examined charcoal preserved in peat deposits from Central and South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australasia.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

His angular head topped with a green felt crown; his toothy mouth a sinister, grimacing gash; his eyes blackened with what looks like charcoal.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

"During the war, Khartoum state has lost 60 percent of its green cover," Hamed said, describing how century-old trees "were cut down with electric saws" for commercial timber and charcoal production.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

The Nightingale watched Anya introduce her friends, and then he took the charcoal pencil from her.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• sunless
• unlighted
• unlit