n. & v.
n. 1 a a meal cooked on an open fire out of doors, esp. meat grilled on a metal appliance. b a party at which such a meal is cooked and eaten. 2 a the metal appliance used for the preparation of a barbecue. b a fireplace, usu. of brick, containing such an appliance.
v.tr. (barbecues, barbecued, barbecuing) cook (esp. meat) on a barbecue. barbecue sauce a highly seasoned sauce, usu. containing chillies, in which meat etc. may be cooked.
[ Sp. barbacoa f. Haitian barbaca wooden frame on posts ]