charcoal
Elementary (A2)
IPA: /ˈtʃɑːr.koʊl/
KK: /ˈtʃɑrˌkoʊl/
noun
Definition
A black material made from burned wood that is used for fuel, drawing, and filtering.
Example
The artist used charcoal to create a beautiful sketch of the landscape.
Conversation
Have you ever tried drawing with charcoal?
Yeah, it's really fun and gives such a rich texture.
I love how expressive it can be compared to regular pencils.
Absolutely! It really brings the artwork to life.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
carbon
fuel
drawing
Antonyms
light
whiteness
brightness
transitive verb
Definition
To draw or write using a black material made from burned wood or other organic substances.
Example
She used charcoal to create a beautiful drawing of the landscape.
Tense Forms
Past: charcoaled
Past Participle: charcoaled
Conversation
I saw some beautiful art that was made using charcoal last weekend.
Really? I love how rich the texture looks when artists use charcoal.
Yeah, it reminded me that I should try charcoal drawing myself.
Root Explanation
Charcoal originates from the Old French word 'charcole', which is a combination of 'char' (meaning to burn) and 'cole' (meaning coal). The word refers to a form of carbon produced by burning wood or other organic materials in a low-oxygen environment, resulting in a blackened substance used for fuel or drawing.
Memory Tip
Think of 'char' meaning to burn and 'coal' as a type of fuel — charcoal is what you get when wood is burned down to a blackened fuel.
Visually Confused Words
chronal
chacona
carucal
caracol
caracal