Those of us who regularly cook low and slow over coals and/or wood use the word "barbecue" as either a verb to describe that action, or a noun to describe the food produced by that method. Not in the same sentence, however.
"I can barbecue a great brisket" or "I cook great barbecue".
Before I learned how to barbecue, I, too, used the word to describe grills, cook-outs and burgers and dogs.
Hearing the word "misused" (if you will) is like fingernails on the chalkboard for us bbq'ers. But I've learned that people REALLY don't like being corrected, when everyone around them, all of their lives, has called a gas grill a "BBQ". So I cringe and keep my mouth shut.
Bacardi, I believe that North Carolinians generally limit their use of the noun "barbecue" to barbecued pork, and more specifically, pulled pork butt. Not sure if that's the same in Tennessee, but the Memphis in May competition circuit is all pork.
Lee