Definition

1. Noun:
   • An informal meal cooked and eaten outdoors: A "cookout" refers to a casual social gathering where food is prepared and consumed outside, typically involving grilling or barbecuing.

Usage

• A "cookout" is a common social event, especially in warm weather. It emphasizes the method of cooking (outdoors) and the informal, communal nature of the meal. It is often associated with family gatherings, holidays, or casual get-togethers with friends.

Examples

• Noun:
  • We're having a cookout in the backyard this Saturday.
  • The company's annual summer cookout is always a lot of fun.
  • He grilled burgers and hot dogs for the neighborhood cookout.

Advanced Usage

• "to have a cookout": to host or organize an outdoor meal.
  • Let's have a cookout to celebrate the end of the semester.
• "cookout food": food typically associated with outdoor grilling.
  • Hot dogs, hamburgers, and corn on the cob are classic cookout food.

Variants and Related Words

• Cook (verb): To prepare food by heating it.
• Barbecue (BBQ) (noun/verb): A method of cooking meat over an open fire or a specific social event similar to a cookout. (Note: "Barbecue" can be more specific to a style of cooking or sauce, while "cookout" is a general term for the outdoor meal event.)
• Grill (verb/noun): To cook food on a metal frame over fire, or the appliance used for such cooking.
• Picnic (noun): A meal eaten outdoors, but typically involving food brought from home, not necessarily cooked on-site.

Synonyms

• Outdoor meal: A general term for any meal eaten outside.
• Barbecue: Often used interchangeably in casual contexts, though it can imply a specific cooking style.
• Grill-out: An informal synonym, emphasizing the grilling aspect.

Related Phrases

• Backyard cookout: Specifies the location of the outdoor meal.
  • We hosted a backyard cookout for the Fourth of July.
• Summer cookout: Indicates the typical season for such events.
  • Nothing beats a summer cookout with friends.

Noun

1. an informal meal cooked and eaten outdoors