bar|be|cue

bar|be|cue «BAHR buh kyoo», noun, verb, -cued, -cu|ing.

–n.

1. a) an outdoor meal in which meat or fish is roasted over an open fire: »

We had a barbecue of hamburgers on Saturday.

b) the food at such a meal.

2. a grill or open fireplace for cooking meat, usually over charcoal: »

I tripped and fell over the barbecue in the backyard. Rolls or buns fresh from your baker, simmering on a barbecue with either hot dogs or hamburgers, make a tangy, tasty snack that's fast to prepare and fun to eat (Maclean's).

3. meat roasted over an open fire: »

The barbecue sizzled as the sauce was poured over it.

4. Originally U.S. an outdoor feast at which animals are roasted whole.

5. an animal roasted whole.

6. a restaurant serving or featuring barbecued meat.

–v.t.

1. to roast (meat) before or over an open fire: »

We barbecued several pieces of chicken for dinner.

2. to cook (meat or fish) in a highly flavored sauce: »

The barbecued spareribs made my tongue burn and eyes water.

3. to roast (an animal) whole: »

to barbecue a steer.

Also, barbeque.

╂[< Spanish barbacoa barbecue < Arawak (Haiti) barbakoa (perhaps) tree house]

–bar´be|cu´er, noun.