English · Word Candidate

charcoal

/ˈtʃɑː.kəʊl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: charcoals · charcoaling · charcoaled

Sense 1

Meaning · English

impure carbon obtained by destructive distillation of wood or other organic matter, that is, heating it in the absence of oxygen.

Noun

Examples

The grate was laid with charcoal, to that she put a light, and then, as if she had forgotten something, hurried to the library, and carefully locked the door. First returning to see that the fire had kindled, she then went to the window, which, with the first gleam of moonlight, she cautiously unclo

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A stick of black carbon material used for drawing.

Noun

Examples

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.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Of a dark gray colour.

Adjective

Examples

Two vultures […] stood silent side by side like smoking coworkers on break, one charcoal eye staring back at me indifferently.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

Made of charcoal.

Adjective

Examples

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.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “charcoal” mean?

impure carbon obtained by destructive distillation of wood or other organic matter, that is, heating it in the absence of oxygen.

Is “charcoal” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.