charcoal

SayCHAR-kohl/ˈt͡ʃɑɹ.koʊl/UK/ˈtʃɑː.kəʊl/

8 meanings of charcoal

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A form of impure carbon produced by heating wood or other organic matter with little or no oxygen.
The blacksmith fed charcoal into the forge to reach a higher temperature.
Traditional kilns turn stacked logs into charcoal over several days.
2
nouncountable
A stick of compressed black carbon used by artists for drawing and shading.
She preferred a soft charcoal for the deep blacks in her portrait.
A box of vine charcoals sat beside the easel.
3
noununcountable
A very dark gray, close to black.
The designer chose charcoal for the suit's lining.
Charcoal works well as a neutral backdrop in modern interiors.
4
adjective
Of a very dark gray color, close to black.
The architect specified charcoal cladding for the building's exterior.
His charcoal overcoat stood out against the snow.
5
adjective
Made of charcoal, the impure black carbon left when wood or other organic matter is heated without oxygen.
The water filter relies on a charcoal core to trap contaminants.
The restaurant switched from gas to charcoal fuel for its brick oven.
6
nouncountable
A drawing or sketch produced using charcoal sticks.
The museum displayed several charcoals by the young artist.
He gave her a charcoal he had made during the workshop.
7
verbtransitive
To cook food over burning charcoal.
Street vendors charcoal skewers of meat along the boulevard.
I prefer to charcoal corn until the kernels char slightly.
Similargrill, barbecue, chargrill
8
verbtransitive
To sketch or draw using charcoal.
The artist charcoaled a quick portrait of the sitter.
Beginners often charcoal simple shapes before attempting detail.

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English charcole, combining charren ("to change, turn," from Old English cierran) with cole ("coal," from Old English col); equivalent to char plus coal.