Charcoal is a black substance obtained by burning wood without much air. It can be burned as a fuel, and small sticks of it are used for drawing with.
charcoal in British English
(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
activated carbon
2.
a stick or pencil of this for drawing
3.
a drawing done in charcoal
4. short for charcoal grey
verb
5. (transitive)
to write, draw, or blacken with charcoal
Word origin
C14: from char (origin obscure) + coal
charcoal in American English
(ˈtʃɑrˌkoʊl)
noun
1.
a porous, amorphous form of carbon produced by destructive distillation of wood or other organic matter and used for decolorizing sugar and food, in filters, as a gas absorbent, fuel, etc.
2.
a pencil made of this substance
3.
a drawing made with such a pencil
4.
a very dark gray or brown, almost black
verb transitive
5.
to write or draw with charcoal
6.
to charbroil
Word origin
ME char cole; prob. < charren, to turn (see chare) + cole, coal (hence, lit., wood turned to coal)
Examples of 'charcoal' in a sentence
charcoal
You will need to keep the charcoal burning throughout the smoking time.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We sat down to talk as a pot of rice simmered away on a charcoal fire.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
The wood also makes good charcoal for artists to draw with.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Come to the charcoal fire built at the foot of the cross.
Christianity Today (2000)
Instead, she worked with charcoal and pencil.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
First off is the age-old question of gas or charcoal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Police also shut down 43 furnaces that make charcoal from wood.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Architecture was a particular love, and his pencil or charcoal drawings of buildings were much admired.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
After applying a good base, use a kohl pencil in dark charcoal to frame the eyes.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If only grey will do for you, make it charcoal and add texture.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Cover the pot and place over a gas burner or charcoal, over a medium heat.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Pick your fuel: a mix of charcoal and wood is great.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Black can look rather harsh with red; charcoal makes a softer alternative.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If he sang of cold or a charcoal's fire heat we felt the temperature.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Broad and shallow, each was set above a charcoal fire in a pit.
Hyland, Paul Indian Balm - Travels in the Southern Subcontinent (1994)
The charcoal draws out impurities.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Burn wood or charcoal only.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Electricity does not reach much beyond the main towns and cities, and most people rely instead on wood or charcoal for heat and light.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Unlike wood, charcoal burns from the top down, so you light it from the top.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, charcoal and wood do not burn fully.
The Sun (2011)
If cooking on charcoal or with wood, throw the bay leaves into the fire, otherwise omit.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Word lists with
charcoal
Art equipment
In other languages
charcoal
British English: charcoal /ˈtʃɑːˌkəʊl/ NOUN
Charcoal is a black substance used as a fuel and for drawing, obtained by burning wood without much air.