charcoal

1 of 2

noun

char·​coal ˈchär-ˌkōl 

1

: a dark or black porous carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances (as from wood by charring in a kiln from which air is excluded)

2

a

: a piece or pencil of fine charcoal used in drawing

b

: a charcoal drawing

3

: a dark gray

charcoal

2 of 2

verb

charcoaled; charcoaling; charcoals

transitive verb

: charbroil

Examples of charcoal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Morrison Grill is a fantastic in-house dining option and home to one of the first Josper Grills in Ireland—a combined charcoal grill and oven that can reach temperatures of 932°F. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

There are also hundreds of his own charcoal drawings and oil paintings, most of which are of Dolores, his female alter ego. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026

Verb

Meat that's been smoked, grilled, charcoaled, or preserved with salt may lead to gene mutations and precancerous changes in the stomach. — Carrie Madormo, Health, 17 Oct. 2025

Advertisement The result is a terrible new normal, with immense out-of-control wildfires now regularly turning massive swaths of the boreal belt around the top of the world to charcoal. — Stephen Maher, Time, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English charcole

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1930, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for charcoal

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol
• flagpole

Kids Definition

charcoal

noun

char·​coal

ˈchär-ˌkōl

1

: a dark or black absorbent carbon made by heating animal or vegetable material in the absence of air

2

a

: a piece or pencil of charcoal used in drawing

b

: a charcoal drawing

Medical Definition

charcoal

noun

char·​coal ˈchär-ˌkōl 

: a dark or black porous carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances (as from wood by charring in a kiln from which air is excluded) see activated charcoal