char

char — verb

1. to make the surface of something turn black by burning it, or for a surface to b

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to make the surface of something turn black by burning it, or for a surface to become black from fire or intense heat

Example

Yara's toast was already charred on both sides when she took it out.

passive: be charred (past participle)

The flames charred the old barn's roof before the firefighters arrived.

Common collocations
  • charred wood
  • charred remains
  • badly charred
  • slightly charred
  • char + on the outside
Synonyms
  • burn

    more general; char specifies that the surface turns black and carbonized

  • scorch

    milder damage — a scorched surface is brown, not black; charring goes deeper

  • singe

    only the outermost fibres or hairs are burnt; very light surface damage

Grammar Patterns

char + noun (object)

noun + char

be charred

Usage Note

This sense works both transitively (you char something) and intransitively (something chars). The passive form 'be charred' is extremely common when describing fire damage or overcooked food.

2. to earn money by cleaning and tidying someone's house or office on a regular bas

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to earn money by cleaning and tidying someone's house or office on a regular basis

Example

Hana chars for three different families to help pay for her university studies.

collocation: char for [someone]

Tomás's mother used to char at the local school after her children grew up.

Common collocations
  • char for a family
  • char at an office
  • char for a living
Synonyms
  • clean

    much broader in meaning; char specifically refers to paid domestic or office cleaning

Grammar Patterns

char + for + someone

char + at + place

Usage Note

This verb is intransitive only — you cannot 'char a house.' It is mainly British and is considered somewhat old-fashioned today. The related noun 'charwoman' (or 'char' for short) is more frequent than the verb.

char — noun

Word family

  • charred
    adjectiveB1
  • charwoman
    nounC1
  • charring
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

While 'burn' is the most general term for damage by fire, 'char' specifically describes a surface turning black and carbonized — a paper burns up completely, but wood or food can char on the outside while remaining intact. 'Scorch' is milder: a scorched tablecloth has brown marks from an iron, not blackened holes. 'Singe' is lighter still — brushing against a flame may singe your arm hairs without burning the skin underneath. 'Blacken' can happen without fire at all (smoke can blacken a ceiling), whereas 'char' always requires direct burning or intense heat. In the kitchen, you char a pepper skin over a gas flame to peel it, singe the fine hairs off a chicken, and scorch the bottom of a pot if the heat is too high.

burn ↗scorchsingeblacken ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • char to a crisp
  • char on the outside
  • char for a living

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The two very different meanings of 'char' come from separate origins. The 'burn' sense is a 1600s shortening of 'charcoal,' which entered English from Old French 'charbon' (charcoal). The 'clean' sense (and the noun 'charwoman') comes from Old English 'ċerr' (a turn, a task), the same source as 'chore' — a charwoman was originally a woman hired by the task. These two words happened to end up spelled the same way but have no historical connection.