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.
Phrases and idioms:
barbecue sauce a highly seasoned sauce, usu. containing chillies, in which meat etc. may be cooked.
Etymology: Sp. barbacoa f. Haitian barbac{ograve}a wooden frame on posts