barbecue

verb

bar·be·cue | \ ˈbär-bi-ˌkyü

barbecued; barbecuing; barbecues

Definition of barbecue

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to roast or broil (food, such as meat) on a rack or revolving spit over or before a source of heat (such as hot coals or a gas flame) barbecuing chicken for dinner

2 : to prepare (food, such as beef, pork, or chicken) by seasoning (as with a marinade, a barbecue sauce, or a rub) and cooking usually slowly and with exposure to low heat and to smoke Barbecuing brisket begins late Thursday night so they can start serving at noon Friday.— Carlos Frías To be really barbecued, ribs must roast slowly over hardwood, which cooks them with a combination of heat and smoke.— Dennis R. Getto I prepared it with a rub rather than a marinade or barbecue sauce. It was the first time I'd barbecued meat seasoned with a rub, and it was very easy.— Margaret Prouse

3 informal : to subject (someone) to harsh criticism or ridicule Republicans now talk of winning 15 to 20 new seats in November, a prospect that has the faithful and the financiers wanting to barbecue Clinton for at least a few more weeks.— Nancy Gibbs et al.

intransitive verb

: to barbecue food barbecuing on a grill There are no shortcuts in barbecuing here. The brisket, for example, is slow smoked with a dry rub for 14 to 16 hours …— Constance Snow

barbecue

noun

variants: or less commonly barbeque

Definition of barbecue (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a large animal (such as a steer) roasted whole or split over an open fire or a fire in a pit

b : barbecued food eat barbecue

2 : a social gathering especially in the open air at which barbecued food is eaten

3 : an often portable fireplace over which meat and fish are roasted

Other Words from barbecue More Example Sentences Learn More About barbecue

Examples of barbecue in a Sentence

Verb We barbecued chicken and ribs. We barbecue often during the summer. Noun grill a steak on the barbecue We plan to have a barbecue for the whole family. She invited us over for some beer and barbecue.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Many were already gathered around, helping clean up the mess or preparing to barbecue for the block. — Xander Peters, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Aug. 2021 The skateboarders would often barbecue together at the Burnside park, and Castillo-Pacheco was always there, Barnes said, with a big smile and a cold Modelo. — oregonlive, 21 July 2021 But Deirdre has to be mom, dad, coach, buddy, the works; teaching her sons how to barbecue and play lacrosse. — Kevin Fisher-paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 June 2021 Millions of Americans will be taking the opportunity to barbecue with friends today. — Jamie Gold, Forbes, 31 May 2021 There is also a hamper at the house dedicated solely to barbecue clothes. — Chuck Blount, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Apr. 2021 Each offseason, Mulugheta and his clients will work out, watch film and also barbecue with their families. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2020 When the world started to change in mid-March, barbecue up-and-comer Joe Zavala saw a way through. — Anna Caplan, Dallas News, 4 Aug. 2020 The idea of not being able to freely barbecue with friends and family without precautionary measures, or just head out to the beach, is unsettling. — Sy Mukherjee, Fortune, 2 July 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun This hot spot in Pismo Beach is all about barbecue, especially the Texas-style brisket. — Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2021 It’s not complex or tannic, but a smooth barbecue, pizza or party wine. — Marc Bona, cleveland, 12 Dec. 2021 With covered spaces and heaters scattered throughout its outdoor setting, guests can enjoy Korean barbecue, beers and cocktails outside this winter season. — Brooks Sutherland, The Enquirer, 8 Dec. 2021 Meanwhile, New Orleans barbecue joint Blue Oak BBQ, known for its ribs, pulled pork, brisket and smoked chicken wings, will open its first location outside of Louisiana in Huntsville. — al, 20 Aug. 2021 They can be dipped in smoky sweet barbecue, garlic parmesan, bourbon teriyaki, classic, spicy Thai chili, spicy garlic, Nashville hot, pineapple habanero or the reaper sauces or dry-rubbed with lemon pepper or spicy cajun seasonings. — Brandi Addison, Dallas News, 18 Aug. 2021 After the shooting, the hospital bills racked up, and the weight of those bills pushed him into cooking Mexican barbecue — his passion. — Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2021 Building off the team’s pandemic successes, Excite Ballpark will again host drive-in movies, pickups of take-out barbecue, concerts and huge company events next offseason. — Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 June 2021 One was a sprawling march-slash-5K-slash-barbecue in Upper Manhattan, organized by a network of community associations, running groups, and creatives including the stylist Gabriel Garmon. — Marley Marius, Vogue, 21 June 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barbecue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.