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

/ 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.

Other Words From

• charcoaly 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 team of researchers from the UK and Australia analysed charcoal and pollen contained in ancient mud to determine how Aboriginal Tasmanians shaped their surroundings.

From Science Daily

But in the sediment core, the amount of charcoal debris—an indicator of fire burning nearby plants—more than doubled earlier than that time, starting about 41,600 years ago.

From Science Magazine

In a forest close to Roriak, a group of men and women chop down trees to make charcoal.

From BBC

An artist said it was "the most surreal moment" of his life to be invited to hand deliver two charcoal drawings of Tom Cruise to the Top Gun actor.

From BBC

“Me and my husband went all over the city, but we couldn’t find charcoal anywhere,” she explains.

From BBC

Related Words

• graphite
• soot