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carbon

Pronunciation: /ˈkɑːb(ə)n/
Translate carbon | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of carbon

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'

carbon in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of carbon in the US English dictionary
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