carbonizes

Turns to charcoal

Carbonizes means to convert or be converted into carbon, typically through intense heat.

When organic material carbonizes, it chars or burns until only carbon remains, as happens when wood becomes charcoal or when food burns black in a pan.

The fire had completely carbonized the wooden beams.

The term appears in both cooking contexts, where it usually describes unwanted burning, and in industrial processes where carbonization is deliberate.

burning

charcoal

Burned wood residue

charBurn without destroying
scorchBurn superficially
blackenMake or become dark

singe · incinerate · ash · cinder · embers · flame · ignite · blaze · torch · smolder

pyrolysis

charring

Burning surface black

carbonizationConversion to char
thermolysisDecomposition by heat
cokingCoal-to-coke conversion process

calcination · annealing · heat treatment · biochar · retort · kiln · gasification · cracking · devolatilization

fossilization

coal

Combustible sedimentary rock

peatWaterlogged decomposed vegetation
anthraciteHighest-grade coal variety
ligniteLow-rank sedimentary fuel

bituminous · fossil fuels · organic matter · sedimentation · compression · geological · ancient plants · metamorphism

cooking

burnt

Damaged by heat

overcookedHeated beyond optimal
charredBurned until black
blackenedDarkened by burning

grilled · broiled · caramelized · crispy · seared · smoked · barbecued · roasted · toasted · well-done

Opposites

combustion completeness

carbonizeswarms

Increases temperature of

browns · toasts · undercooks · singes · scorches

material transformation direction

carbonizespreserves

Cooked fruit in sugar

restores · reconstitutes · regenerates · hydrates · maintains

thermal effect on material

carbonizesfreezes

Hardens from cold

refrigerates · chills · cools · quenches · extinguishes

Family

carbonize, carbonized, carbonizing, decarbonize, decarbonized, decarbonizing, decarbonizes

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G