Charcoal

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈtʃɑː.kəʊl/

Origin

From Middle English charcole, from charren ("to change, turn") + cole ("coal"), from Old English cierran ("to change, turn") + col ("coal"), equivalent to char + coal. More at ajar, coal.

Full definition of charcoal

Noun

1. (uncountable) Impure carbon obtained by destructive distillation of wood or other organic matter, that is to say, heating it in the absence of oxygen.
• 2006, w, Internal Combustion Chapter 2, But through the oligopoly, charcoal fuel proliferated throughout London's trades and industries.  By the 1200s, brewers and bakers, tilemakers, glassblowers, pottery producers, and a range of other craftsmen all became hour-to-hour consumers of charcoal.
2. (countable) A stick of black carbon material used for drawing.
• 1879, Th Du Moncel, The Telephone, the Microphone and the Phonograph, He takes the prepared charcoal used by artists, brings it to a white heat, and suddenly plunges it in a bath of mercury, of which the globules instantly penetrate the pores of charcoal, and may be said to metallize it.
3. (countable) A drawing made with charcoal.
4. A very dark gray colour.

Adjective

1. Of a dark gray colour.
2. Made of charcoal.
• 2006, w, Internal Combustion Chapter 2, But through the oligopoly, charcoal fuel proliferated throughout London's trades and industries.  By the 1200s, brewers and bakers, tilemakers, glassblowers, pottery producers, and a range of other craftsmen all became hour-to-hour consumers of charcoal.

Derived terms

• activated charcoal
• charcoal burner
• charcoal drawing
• charcoal grey

Related terms

• carbonara
• Carbonari
• charbroil
• vitrain

Verb

1. To draw with charcoal.
2. To cook over charcoal.