calcium carbide

noun

1. a grayish-black, lumpy, crystalline powder, CaC 2 , usually derived from coke or anthracite by reaction with limestone or quicklime: used chiefly for the generation of acetylene, which it yields upon decomposing in water.

calcium carbide

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: carbide. a grey salt of calcium used in the production of acetylene (by its reaction with water) and calcium cyanamide. Formula: CaC 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of calcium carbide¹

First recorded in 1885–90