# barbecue

/ˈbɑɹbɪkˌju/ (US) · /bˈɑːbɪkjˌuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/barbecue
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. cooking equipment

noun · CEFR A2

a metal frame or a special machine used for cooking food outdoors over fire or charcoal.

For teachers: an apparatus, typically used outdoors, for grilling or smoking food over charcoal, wood, or gas.

- We bought a new gas barbecue for the patio so we can cook outside this summer.
- The chef insisted on using a traditional charcoal barbecue to ensure the meat acquired a distinct smoky flavour that gas grills cannot replicate.

### 2. social event

noun · CEFR A2

a party or meal where people cook and eat food outdoors.

For teachers: a social gathering, usually held outdoors, where food is cooked on a barbecue and served to guests.

- Our neighbours invited us over for a barbecue on Saturday afternoon.
- The annual company barbecue provides a relaxed environment for employees from different departments to socialise outside of the office.

### 3. style of meat

noun · CEFR B1

meat that has been cooked slowly over a fire, often served with a spicy or sweet sauce.

For teachers: meat, particularly pork or beef, prepared through slow-smoking over indirect heat and often seasoned with a specific rub or sauce.

- I ordered a plate of Texas barbecue with a side of coleslaw.
- In the southern United States, barbecue refers specifically to the slow-cooked meat itself rather than the act of grilling burgers or hot dogs.

### 4. to cook outdoors

verb · CEFR A2

to cook food on a barbecue grill.

For teachers: to cook food on a barbecue; may refer specifically to slow-smoking or more generally to outdoor grilling.

- We plan to barbecue some chicken and corn for dinner tonight.
- While some prefer to barbecue vegetables quickly over high heat, tougher cuts of meat require hours of low-temperature smoking to become tender.

### 5. to destroy with fire

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

to badly burn or destroy something with intense heat.

For teachers: to kill or destroy using high heat or fire. Transitive use is common in high-intensity slang contexts.

- The dragon in the video game will barbecue your character if you stand too close.
- The heavy artillery fire threatened to barbecue any infantry caught in the open during the midday assault.

## Examples

- We are having a barbecue in the garden this Sunday.
- The family bought a new gas barbecue to use for their annual summer neighborhood party.
- While some purists insist that a true barbecue requires slow-cooking meat over wood smoke for hours, most people use the term for any quick outdoor grilling session.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.