Definition of 'char'

Word Frequency

char

(tʃɑːʳ )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense chars , present participle charring , past tense, past participle charred

1. verb

If food chars or if you char it, it burns slightly and turns black as it is cooking.

Toast hazelnuts on a baking sheet until the skins char. [VERB]

Halve the peppers and char the skins under a hot grill. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: scorch, sear, singe, carbonize More Synonyms of char

charring uncountable noun

The chops should be cooked over moderate heat to prevent excessive charring.

2. verb

If a woman chars for someone, she works as their cleaner.

[British, old-fashioned]

I'm calling round at the Rodings to ask if Mrs Higgins will char for you. [VERB for noun]

3. uncountable noun

Tea that you drink can be referred to as char.

[British, informal, old-fashioned]

Is there any char going?

4. See also charred

Word Frequency

char in British 1

(tʃɑː )

verbWord forms: chars, charring or charred

to burn or be burned partially, esp so as to blacken the surface; scorch

2. (transitive)

to reduce (wood) to charcoal by partial combustion

Word origin of 'char'

C17: short for charcoal

Word Frequency

char in British 2

or charr (tʃɑː )

nounWord forms: plural char, chars, charr or charrs

any of various troutlike fishes of the genus Salvelinus, esp S. alpinus, occurring in cold lakes and northern seas: family Salmonidae (salmon)

Word origin of 'char'

C17: of unknown origin

Word Frequency

char in British 3

(tʃɑː )

noun British informal

1. short for charwoman

verbWord forms: chars, charring or charred

to do housework, cleaning, etc, as a job

Word origin of 'char'

C18: from Old English cerr

Word Frequency

char in British 4

(tʃɑː )

noun

British a slang word for tea

Word origin of 'char'

from Chinese ch'a

Word Frequency

char in American 1

(tʃɑr ; chär)

verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: charred or ˈcharring

to reduce to charcoal by burning

to burn slightly; scorch

noun

anything charred; esp., charcoal

SIMILAR WORDS: burn

Word origin of 'char'

back-form. < charcoal

Word Frequency

char in American 2

(tʃɑr ; chär)

noun

chare

2. British, Informal

a charwoman

verb intransitiveWord forms: charred or ˈcharring

3. Chiefly British, Informal

to work as a charwoman

Word origin of 'char'

back-form. < charwoman

Word Frequency

char in American 3

(tʃɑr ; chär)

nounWord forms: plural chars or char

any of a genus (Salvelinus) of trouts with small scales and a red belly

Word origin of 'char'

< Gael ceara, red < cear, blood

Word Frequency

char in American 4

(tʃɑr ; chär)

noun

British, Slang

tea (sense 3)

Word Frequency

char in American 5

character

charter

Example sentences containing 'char'

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They fought the flames for more than an hour before finding the body inside the charred home. The Sun (2013)Leave them for three or four minutes or until they are nicely charred. The Sun (2013)The outside will be slightly charred in colour. The Sun (2015)Cut the pears into quarters and griddle on all sides until nicely charred. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Her charred body was in the garden. The Sun (2016)The fish should be slightly charred. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The outside will be slightly charred. Times, Sunday Times (2015)Key features include an open char grill, as well as the bar. Times, Sunday Times (2010)Meanwhile, place the tortillas on the griddle to lightly char and warm through. The Sun (2015)The images show human remains, burnt and charred. Times, Sunday Times (2011)Add the skewers and cook for 3-4 minutes each side or until charred and cooked through. Times, Sunday Times (2015)Once nicely charred, pop them into a bowl and cover with clingfilm. The Sun (2015)His charred body was found two miles away at 3am. The Sun (2016)Firefighters called to a 5am blaze found the charred body and head. The Sun (2012)Mix well and roast for 20-25 minutes until the vegetables are slightly charred and the garlic is soft. Times, Sunday Times (2015)I feel like charred wood on cold ashes. Christianity Today (2000)When nicely charred, set aside and let them cool down before dressing in olive oil and ground pepper. Times, Sunday Times (2008)Place the spears on the hot griddle and grill on all sides for 2-3 minutes until lightly golden and charred. Times, Sunday Times (2008)Add the tomatoes and cook for 7-8 minutes or until the broccoli is lightly charred and the speck is crisp. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Turn them slightly so the other cut side is also charred, and cook for a further three to four minutes. The Sun (2013)Rub the cut surface of each leek with oil, then lay cut side down on the pan and grill until charred. Times, Sunday Times (2014)

Trends of 'char'

Used Occasionally. char is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'char'

British English: char VERB

If food chars or if you char it, it burns slightly and turns black as it is cooking.

Toast hazelnuts on a baking sheet until the skins char.

American English: char
Brazilian Portuguese: tostar
Chinese: 烧焦
European Spanish: chamuscar
French: carboniser
German: verkohlen
Italian: bruciacchiare
Japanese: 焦がす/焦げる
Korean: 까맣게 태우다
European Portuguese: tostar
Spanish: chamuscar

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Nearby words of 'char'

Related Terms of 'char'

Source

Definition of char from the Collins English Dictionary

WH- words

The WH- words are also called interrogatives. They are used for WH- questions. They can be determiners, adverbs, or pronouns. WH- determiners When used as determiners, what , which, or whose can b...