What does "charcoal" mean?

1. (colour description) having a very dark grey colour. 2. (to cook) to cook food over a fire made of charcoal.

charcoal

adj. · v.

US //ˈtʃɑɹˌkoʊɫ// UK //tʃˈɑːkəʊl// char·coal

1 colour description (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

having a very dark grey colour.

of a dark grey colour; frequently used in the context of formal clothing or interior design.

Example

He wore a charcoal suit to the wedding to look professional but not too formal.

Example

The designer recommended charcoal upholstery for the sofa to provide a sophisticated contrast against the white gallery walls.
- dark grey
- sooty
2 to cook (v.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Cooking

to cook food over a fire made of charcoal.

to grill or sear food using charcoal as the primary heat source.

Example

The restaurant is famous because they charcoal all their vegetables.

Example

The chef prefers to charcoal the octopus over high heat to achieve a smoky exterior while maintaining a tender texture.
- grill
- barbecue

Origin

From Middle English charcole, from charren (“to change, turn”) + cole (“coal”), from Old English cierran (“to change, turn”) + col (“coal”); equivalent to char (Etymology 3 (verb)) + coal.