barbecue
BAH-bih-kyoo
Barbecue (noun) means a grill or fireplace used for cooking food, usually outdoors over hot coals or gas flame. Example: “He fired up the barbecue for the family gathering.”
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."
"Our new barbecue runs on gas and heats up in only a few minutes."
"Please scrub the barbecue grill before you put it away for winter."
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."
"The neighbours invited us to a barbecue on the beach after work."
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."
"Dad likes to barbecue sausages in the garden whenever the sun comes out."
"We barbecued fish by the lake and ate it with fresh bread."
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- barbecues
- Third person singular
- barbecues
- Past tense
- barbecued
Fill the gap
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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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for barbecue
See all rhymes for barbecue →Frequently asked questions
What does “barbecue” mean?
The word “barbecue” means a grill or fireplace used for cooking food, usually outdoors over hot coals or gas flame. In plain terms, cooking food outdoors over fire or coals, the grill used to do it, or the social gathering built around it.
How do you pronounce “barbecue”?
“Barbecue” is pronounced BAH-bih-kyoo (/ˈbɑɹbɪˌkju/ in IPA).
How do you use “barbecue” in a sentence?
Here is “barbecue” used in a sentence: “He fired up the barbecue for the family gathering.”
What part of speech is “barbecue”?
Depending on how it is used, “barbecue” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “barbecue” come from?
The word “barbecue” comes from Spanish. From Spanish barbacoa, from Taíno barbakoa, meaning a raised wooden framework the Taíno people used for sleeping or curing meat.
Is “barbecue” a common word?
“Barbecue” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “barbecue” have?
“Barbecue” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a grill or fireplace used for cooking food, usually outdoors over hot coals or gas flame.
What is the difference between barbecuing and grilling?
Barbecuing generally refers to cooking food over an open flame or hot coals, often with a smoky flavor, and can include slower cooking methods, while grilling typically implies quicker cooking directly over high heat. In casual use, however, the two terms are frequently used interchangeably for outdoor cooking.
Is 'barbecue' spelled 'BBQ' or 'barbeque'?
'Barbecue' is the standard spelling, while 'BBQ' is a common informal abbreviation used in casual writing, signage, and menus. 'Barbeque' is a widely used alternative spelling but is considered nonstandard compared to 'barbecue'.
What is the difference between a barbecue as an event and a barbecue as equipment?
A barbecue can refer to the grill or fireplace itself used for cooking outdoors, or to the social event centered on food cooked outdoors, such as 'we're having a barbecue this weekend.' Context usually makes clear whether the word refers to the equipment or the gathering.
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