noun

1. a porous, amorphous form of carbon produced by destructive distillation of wood or other organic matter and used for decolorizing sugar and food, in filters, as a gas absorbent, fuel, etc.
2. a pencil made of this substance
3. a drawing made with such a pencil
4. a very dark gray or brown, almost black

Etymology: ME char cole; prob. < charren, to turn (see chare) + cole, coal (hence, lit., wood turned to coal)

transitive verb

1. to write or draw with charcoal
2. to charbroil