carbon

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkɑːb(ə)n/

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] the chemical element of atomic number 6, a non-metal which has two main forms (diamond and graphite) and which also occurs in impure form in charcoal, soot, and coal. (Symbol: C)
  • [usually as modifier] carbon fibre: a bike with a carbon frame
  • [count noun] a rod of carbon in an arc lamp.
  • [count noun] a piece of carbon paper or a carbon copy.
  • 2carbon dioxide or other gaseous carbon compounds released into the atmosphere, associated with climate change: the level of carbon in the atmosphere has been consistently rising [as modifier]: fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions continued to rise
  • Compounds of carbon (organic compounds) form the physical basis of all living organisms. Carbon atoms are able to link with each other and with other atoms to form chains and rings, and an infinite variety of carbon compounds exist

Derivatives

carbonless

adjective

Origin:

late 18th century: from French carbone, from Latin carbo, carbon- 'coal, charcoal'

Word Trends

No longer just a simple noun for a chemical element, carbon is now most commonly used as shorthand for carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds released into the atmosphere and associated with climate change. It was first used in this sense in 1977, in the phrase carbon emissions, which is still the second most common compound noun containing carbon in the Oxford English Corpus, after carbon dioxide itself. Other common compounds reflect concerns over the impact of humans on the environment, with carbon tax, carbon footprint, carbon credit, and carbon trading all frequently seen. Concern is also shifting from limiting the release of carbon to managing its levels in the atmosphere, as seen from the verbs regularly paired with the word—store is now twice as common as release, with sequester, absorb, and capture all close behind