carbonate

American  

[kahr-buh-neyt, -nit, kahr-buh-neyt] / ˈkɑr bəˌneɪt, -nɪt, ˈkɑr bəˌneɪt /

noun

1. a salt or ester of carbonic acid.

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verb (used with object)

carbonated, carbonating

1. to form into a carbonate.

2. to charge or impregnate with carbon dioxide.

   carbonated drinks.

3. to make sprightly; enliven.

carbonate British  

noun

1. a salt or ester of carbonic acid. Carbonate salts contain the divalent ion CO 3 ^2–

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verb

1. to form or turn into a carbonate

2. (tr) to treat with carbon dioxide or carbonic acid, as in the manufacture of soft drinks

carbonate Scientific  

/ kär′bə-nāt′ /

1. A salt or ester of carbonic acid, containing the group CO ₃. The reaction of carbonic acid with a metal results in a salt (such as sodium carbonate), and the reaction of carbonic acid with an organic compound results in an ester (such as diethyl carbonate).

2. Any other compound containing the group CO ₃. Carbonates include minerals such as calcite and aragonite.

3. Sediment or a sedimentary rock formed by the precipitation of organic or inorganic carbon from an aqueous solution of carbonates of calcium, magnesium, or iron. Limestone is a carbonate rock.

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1. To add carbon dioxide to a substance, such as a beverage.

Other Word Forms

• carbonator noun
• noncarbonate noun
• noncarbonated adjective
• semicarbonate adjective
• uncarbonated adjective

Etymology

Origin of carbonate

1785–95; carbon(ic acid) + -ate ², later taken as -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The Rincon project in Salta Province targets 60,000 tons a year of battery-grade lithium carbonate capacity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Its copper and silver output could grow 10% and 19%, respectively, while lithium carbonate production could surge 380%, according to the company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

In this approach, microorganisms produce cement like substances such as calcium carbonate at room temperature.

From Science Daily • Jan. 6, 2026

The company said it is on schedule to be in production in late 2027, and will scale up in 2028 to full production of 40,000 metric tons per year of battery-quality lithium carbonate.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 16, 2025

“Dude, lime. Calcium carbonate, used in cement and a bunch of other—Ah, never mind. The point is, this ship isn’t going far unless we can fix it.”

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan