char

n. [ OE. cherr, char a turning, time, work, AS. cerr, cyrr, turn, occasion, business, fr. cerran, cyrran, to turn; akin to OS. kërian, OHG. chëran, G. kehren. Cf. Chore, Ajar. ] Work done by the day; a single job, or task; a chore. [ Written also chare. ] [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

When thou hast done this chare, I give thee leave
To play till doomsday. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Charred p. pr. & vb. n. Charring. ] [ Prob. the same word as char to perform (see Char, n.), the modern use coming from charcoal, prop. coal-turned, turned to coal. ] 1. To reduce to coal or carbon by exposure to heat; to reduce to charcoal; to burn to a cinder. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To burn slightly or partially; as, to char wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., of uncertain origin. ] (Bot.) A genus of flowerless plants, having articulated stems and whorled branches. They flourish in wet places. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Chars-a-banc [ F. ] A long, light, open vehicle, with benches or seats running lengthwise. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any freshwater fish of the family Characinidae; -- also called characin.
Syn. -- characin, characin fish. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a natural family of tropical freshwater fishes of Africa and southern and central America.
Syn. -- family Characidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. any freshwater fish of the family Characinidae; -- also called characid.
Syn. -- characin fish, characid. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. former name of the family Characidae.
Syn. -- family Characinidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]