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char up

C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To burn something until it goes black on the outside.

Literal meaning: To char (partially burn) something until it is blackened.

Meanings

1 C1 informal

To partially burn or blacken something by exposing it to heat or fire.

"The flames charred up the wooden beams along the ceiling."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Rare and non-standard. 'Char' alone is the more common verb meaning to partially burn or blacken. 'Char up' may be used for emphasis. Primarily found in informal British speech or cooking contexts.

Commonly used with

wood meat surface edges timber

Forms

Base
char up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chars up
he/she/it
Past simple
chared up
yesterday
Past participle
chared up
have + pp
-ing form
charing up
continuous

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Synonyms

char scorch blacken burn

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