briquette: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Industrial / Everyday (in specific contexts like BBQ)
Quick answer
What does “briquette” mean?
A compressed block of coal dust or other combustible material, typically used for fuel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A compressed block of coal dust or other combustible material, typically used for fuel.
Any small, compressed block or lump of material, which can include charcoal, peat, metal dust, or sawdust, formed for efficient storage, transport, and burning. In metalworking, it can refer to a compacted mass of metal particles.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is identical. 'Briquette' is the standard form in both varieties. The alternative spelling 'briquet' is very rare and archaic in modern usage.
Connotations
In both UK and US, strongly associated with charcoal for barbecues. In the UK, may have stronger historical connotations of domestic heating with coal briquettes.
Frequency
Equally infrequent in general discourse, but familiar in contexts of outdoor cooking, historical domestic heating, and certain industries.
Grammar
How to Use “briquette” in a Sentence
Use [briquettes] as fuel for [a barbecue/fire].Compress [sawdust/coal dust] into briquettes.Light the briquettes with [a firelighter].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “briquette” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The factory will briquette the waste wood to create a sustainable fuel source.
- They briquetted the peat for easier transport.
American English
- The company plans to briquette sawdust from its lumber mills.
- This machine briquettes charcoal powder efficiently.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
- N/A
American English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The briquette furnace was common in mid-20th century homes.
- We need a briquette starter for the grill.
American English
- The briquette production line was shut down for maintenance.
- He prefers the briquette style charcoal over lump charcoal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In the fuel supply or biomass energy sector, referring to a product for sale.
Academic
In engineering or materials science papers discussing compaction processes or alternative fuels.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in the context of barbecuing or, less commonly, historical home heating.
Technical
In metallurgy (metal briquettes), waste management (making fuel from waste), and agricultural processing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “briquette”
- Misspelling as 'briquet' (archaic).
- Confusing with 'brisket' (a cut of meat).
- Using it as a verb without the suffix '-ize' (to briquet* vs. to briquette*). The correct verb is 'to briquette'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Lump charcoal is irregular pieces of charred wood, burning hotter and faster. Briquettes are uniform blocks of compressed charcoal dust and additives, designed for longer, more consistent, and controlled burning.
Yes, though it's technical. 'To briquette' means to compress a material (like dust or flakes) into a solid block.
Yes. In industries like metallurgy, metal powders (e.g., iron, aluminium) are compacted into 'metal briquettes' for efficient melting or recycling.
A common pronunciation error is stressing the first syllable (/ˈbrɪkɛt/). The correct stress is on the second syllable: /brɪˈkɛt/. A spelling confusion is with 'brisket' (beef).
A compressed block of coal dust or other combustible material, typically used for fuel.
Briquette is usually technical / industrial / everyday (in specific contexts like bbq) in register.
Briquette: in British English it is pronounced /brɪˈkɛt/, and in American English it is pronounced /brɪˈkɛt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. The word is used literally.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of BRIdging the gap between useless dust and useful fuel. You 'BRICK-ET' together dust to make a small brick for heat.
Conceptual Metaphor
FUEL IS A SOLID OBJECT (transforming powder into a manipulable, shaped unit).
Practice
Quiz
In which industry would you LEAST likely encounter the term 'briquette' in its standard sense?