noun
barbecue
BAH-bih-kyoo
noun
1
A grill or fireplace used for cooking food, usually outdoors over hot coals or gas flame.
"He fired up the barbecue for the family gathering."
2
A social event centered on food cooked outdoors, or the food itself.
"We're having a barbecue in the garden this Saturday."
"The barbecue at the county fair was slow-smoked for twelve hours."
verb
1
To cook food over an open flame or hot coals, often with a smoky flavor.
"They barbecued burgers and corn for the whole neighborhood."
How to Use Barbecue
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCooking food outdoors over fire or coals, the grill used to do it, or the social gathering built around it.
UK vs US
In the US, "barbecue" (BBQ) often specifically means slow-smoked meat; in the UK it more broadly means any outdoor grilling event.
Common pairings
fire up the barbecue
barbecue sauce
have a barbecue
Word Forms
barbecued past tense, barbecues plural, barbecues singular
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He fired up the _____ for the family gathering.
Etymology
From Spanish barbacoa, from Taíno barbakoa, meaning a raised wooden framework the Taíno people used for sleeping or curing meat.