barbecue

or bar·be·que, bar-b-que

[ bahr-bi-kyoo ]

noun

1. pieces of meat, fowl, fish, or the like, roasted or smoked over fire, especially when basted in a barbecue sauce:

   The restaurant serves amazing barbecue.

2. a framework, such as a grill or a spit, for cooking meat or vegetables over an open fire:

   Make sure you clean off the barbecue so it's ready to use when we go camping.

3. a meal, usually in the open air and often as a social gathering, at which meats are roasted on a grill or over an open hearth or pit.
4. any social gathering centered around food, especially meat, that is cooked over fire using a grill, spit, smoker, or the like:

   Our weekend barbecue was lively until it started to rain.

5. a dressed steer, lamb, or other animal, roasted whole.

verb (used with object)

, bar·be·cued, bar·be·cu·ing.

1. to broil, smoke, or roast (meat, fowl, fish, or the like) whole or in large pieces over an open fire, using a spit, grill, smoker, or the like, often seasoning with vinegar, spices, salt, and pepper:

   They barbecued a chicken and some steaks for dinner.

2. to cook (sliced or diced meat, fowl, fish, or the like) in a highly seasoned sauce.

verb (used without object)

, bar·be·cued, bar·be·cu·ing.

1. to cook over an open fire using an instrument such as a grill, spit, or smoker, or to host a social gathering where food is cooked in this manner:

   If the weather's nice, we'll barbecue in the backyard.

barbecue

/ ˈbɑːbɪˌkjuː /

noun

1. a meal cooked out of doors over an open fire
2. an outdoor party or picnic at which barbecued food is served
3. a grill or fireplace used in barbecuing
4. the food so cooked

verb

1. to cook (meat, fish, etc) on a grill, usually over charcoal and often with a highly seasoned sauce
2. to cook (meat, fish, etc) in a highly seasoned sauce

Other Words From

• bar·be·cu·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbecue¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from Spanish barbacoa, from Arawak (perhaps Taíno ) barbacoa “a raised frame of sticks”

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbecue¹

C17: from American Spanish barbacoa , probably from Taino: frame made of sticks

Example Sentences

He insisted on taking her out to dinner at a barbecue restaurant on La Brea Avenue to repay her for her help.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the country's most powerful gang leaders, Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, previously said he would be prepared to end the violence if armed groups were allowed to be involved in talks to establish a new government.

From BBC

Karen’s viral acts include calling the police on a young Black girl selling water on her block, throwing her grocery basket at Trader Joe’s employees when asked to wear a mask during the pandemic and calling the police on a Black family who dared to barbecue in the park.

From Los Angeles Times

People ate from a buffet from The Park’s Finest, the delicious Filipino barbecue spot run by a friend of hers.

From Los Angeles Times

Other measures include bans on engine-powered rickshaws and vendors that barbecue without filters.

From BBC

Related Words

• cookout
• picnic