barbecue
HighInformal, general. Common in everyday and social contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A method of cooking food, especially meat, over an open fire or on a grill, typically outdoors.
A social event or gathering where food is cooked in this manner; also refers to the equipment or structure used for such cooking (e.g., a barbecue grill or pit). The verb form means to cook food using this method.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily associated with outdoor, leisurely cooking and social gatherings. Can be used as a noun (referring to the event, food, or equipment) or a verb (the action of cooking).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The abbreviation 'BBQ' is common in both. In the UK, 'barbecue' can sometimes refer to a specific type of grill, while the event itself might also be called a 'grill' or 'BBQ'. In the US, 'barbecue' (or 'BBQ') is a major regional culinary tradition with distinct styles (e.g., Texas, Carolina, Kansas City) involving specific meats, sauces, and slow-cooking methods.
Connotations
UK: Generally a casual summer social event. US: Can be a casual backyard event or a serious culinary tradition with strong regional identities and competition.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties, especially in warmer months and in social contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to barbecue somethingto have a barbecueto be barbecuedto go to a barbecueVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Where's the barbecue? (humorous, asking for the party/food)”
- “Everything but the kitchen sink went on the barbecue. (meaning many different things were cooked)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in hospitality/tourism (e.g., 'barbecue restaurant', 'barbecue catering service').
Academic
Rare, except in cultural, anthropological, or food studies contexts.
Everyday
Very high. Common for social planning, food discussion, and weekend activities.
Technical
Used in culinary arts and equipment manufacturing (e.g., 'barbecue smoker', 'indirect heat barbecue').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We're going to barbecue the sausages if the rain holds off.
- I've never barbecued a whole fish before.
American English
- He barbecued the ribs for eight hours over hickory wood.
- Are you going to barbecue the burgers or should I?
adverb
British English
- The chicken is best served barbecue-style with a side of chips.
American English
- The brisket was cooked barbecue-slow for the entire afternoon.
adjective
British English
- She makes a lovely barbecue salad with corn and beans.
- The barbecue area is just down the garden.
American English
- We need more barbecue sauce and paper plates.
- He's known for his award-winning barbecue rub.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like chicken at a barbecue.
- We have a barbecue in the garden.
- The food is on the barbecue.
- If the weather is nice tomorrow, we could have a barbecue.
- Do you prefer charcoal or gas for your barbecue?
- He's in charge of barbecuing the meat.
- Despite the forecast, they decided to go ahead with the barbecue and set up a marquee.
- Authentic Southern barbecue involves smoking the meat at a low temperature for hours.
- The charity event will feature a barbecue cooked by local chefs.
- The nuances of regional American barbecue styles—from the vinegar-based sauces of Carolina to the dry rubs of Memphis—are a subject of passionate debate.
- They expertly barbecued the pulled pork using a combination of indirect heat and soaked wood chips to achieve the perfect smoke ring.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BAR where they serve BEE (like meat) that is CUE'd (signaled to be ready) from the grill.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BARBECUE IS A SOCIAL SUMMER EVENT; COOKING IS A LEISURELY SOCIAL ACTIVITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'шашлык' (shashlik), which is a specific type of skewered meat. 'Barbecue' is the general method/event. Avoid using 'барбекю' as a direct verb in Russian-influenced English (e.g., 'I will barbecue' not 'I will make barbecue').
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'barbeque', 'bar-b-q', 'barbaque'. Incorrect verb use: 'Let's make a barbecue' (non-standard, better: 'Let's have a barbecue' or 'Let's barbecue').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically a direct synonym for 'barbecue' as a social event?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While very common in informal use (especially in brand names like 'Barbeques Galore'), the standard and dictionary-preferred spelling is 'barbecue'. 'BBQ' is a universally accepted abbreviation.
Technically, grilling is cooking quickly with direct high heat. Barbecuing typically involves cooking larger cuts of meat slowly with indirect heat and smoke. In everyday British English, they are often used interchangeably for the social event.
Yes, it is a regular verb: barbecue, barbecues, barbecued, barbecuing. Example: 'We barbecued chicken last night.'
It entered English in the 17th century from Spanish 'barbacoa', which itself was borrowed from Arawak (an indigenous language of the Caribbean), referring to a framework of sticks set upon posts.