barbecue

[ˈbɑːbɪˌkjuː]

[ˈbɑɹbɪˌkju]

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A barbecue is an outdoor meal where people grill food over open flames.

When someone says they're going to a barbecue, it usually means they're invited to a fun gathering with friends or family. These events often happen on weekends and are a great excuse to fire up the grill and cook some delicious burgers, hot dogs, and maybe even some more exotic foods like skewers of meat. Sometimes people might also bring salads or other side dishes to share. It's all about getting together, enjoying good food, and soaking up the sunshine – whether you're in a backyard, at a park, or even on a beach!

How common is "barbecue"?

Word barbecue is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

noun

A fireplace or pit for grilling food, typically used outdoors and traditionally employing hot charcoal as the heating medium.
Example: We cooked our food on the barbecue.
A meal or event highlighted by food cooked in such an apparatus.
Example: We're having a barbecue on Saturday, and you're invited.
Meat, especially pork or beef, which has been cooked in such an apparatus (i.e. smoked over indirect heat from high-smoke fuels) and then chopped up or shredded.
Example: She ordered a plate of barbecue with a side of slaw.
A hog, ox, or other large animal roasted or broiled whole for a feast.
A floor on which coffee beans are sun-dried.
A framework of sticks.