1 charcoal | Definition of charcoal

charcoal

noun
char·​coal | \ ˈchär-ˌkōl How to pronounce charcoal (audio) \

Definition of charcoal

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a dark or black porous carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances (as from wood by charring in a kiln from which air is excluded)
2a : a piece or pencil of fine charcoal used in drawing
b : a charcoal drawing
3 : a dark gray

charcoal

verb
charcoaled; charcoaling; charcoals

Definition of charcoal (Entry 2 of 2)

Examples of charcoal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Rubbed with cumin and garlic and tanned on a charcoal grill, the bird is a little mash note to Lima, even more so in the company of yucca that has been fried so the outside is crisp and the center is fluffy. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, "Tom Sietsema’s 8 favorite places to eat right now," 21 Aug. 2019 Prepare a grill for high indirect heat (for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off; for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side); oil the grate. Carrie Knauer, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Carrie’s Kitchen: Trio of grilling recipes to get us through the end of summer," 12 Aug. 2019 Books/CDs For something more interesting, consider a flight starting at $49, or a charcoal grill for less than $35 or high-end home speakers under $120. Darla Guillen Gilthorpe, Houston Chronicle, "Father's Day gift deals for 2019," 6 June 2019 The most satisfying dishes come from the restaurant’s charcoal grill. Janelle Bitker, SFChronicle.com, "Is San Francisco ready for a Korean food boom?," 8 Aug. 2019 The pork belly glistens with fat, slightly scorched from the charcoal grill and plated next to an artful swipe of gochujang. Janelle Bitker, SFChronicle.com, "Is San Francisco ready for a Korean food boom?," 8 Aug. 2019 Grill the peppers over a gas flame, on a charcoal grill or under a broiler. Jeff Koehler, Twin Cities, "With these Moroccan salads, vegetables come first — and in dazzling abundance," 8 Aug. 2019 The tradition started in response to a video that went viral with the hashtag #BBQBecky in April 2018 of a white woman calling the police to report several black men using a charcoal grill at the lake. Marisa Kendall, The Mercury News, "Oakland’s second ‘BBQing While Black’ party draws big crowds," 21 July 2019 Set up a charcoal grill for direct heat grilling or heat the burners of a gas grill on medium-high. Genevieve Ko, latimes.com, "The tastiest way to use up all your herbs (and it’s not pesto)," 6 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Bruce Gilbert Miami Herald File All that remained in the rubble was a charcoaled safe that contained some of the company’s accounts receivable and payable records. Howard Cohen, miamiherald, "The family businessman who helped grow Norton Tire into a national symbol," 4 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'charcoal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of charcoal

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1965, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for charcoal

Noun

Middle English charcole

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More Definitions for charcoal

charcoal

noun

English Language Learners Definition of charcoal

: a hard black material that is made by burning wood with a small amount of air
: a dark gray color

charcoal

noun
char·​coal | \ ˈchär-ˌkōl How to pronounce charcoal (audio) \

Kids Definition of charcoal

: a black or dark absorbent fuel made by heating wood in the absence of air

charcoal

noun
char·​coal | \ ˈchär-ˌkōl How to pronounce charcoal (audio) \

Medical Definition of charcoal

: a dark or black porous carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances (as from wood by charring in a kiln from which air is excluded) — see activated charcoal

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More from Merriam-Webster on charcoal

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with charcoal

Spanish Central: Translation of charcoal

Nglish: Translation of charcoal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of charcoal for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about charcoal