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carbide

American  
[kahr-bahyd, -bid] / ˈkɑr baɪd, -bɪd /

noun

  1. a compound of carbon with a more electropositive element or group.

  2. calcium carbide.

  3. a very hard mixture of sintered carbides of various heavy metals, especially tungsten carbide, used for cutting edges and dies.


carbide British  
/ ˈkɑːbaɪd /

noun

  1. a binary compound of carbon with a more electropositive element See also acetylide

  2. See calcium carbide

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

carbide Scientific  
/ kärbīd′ /
  1. A chemical compound consisting of carbon and a more electropositive element, such as calcium or tungsten. Many carbides, especially those made of carbon and a metal, are very hard and are used to make cutting tools and abrasives.


Etymology

Origin of carbide

First recorded in 1860–65; carb- + -ide ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The Wolfspeed-Liteon partnership also reinforces AI-driven silicon carbide adoption, benefiting Malaysian power-management players such as Malaysian Pacific Industries, he adds.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 11, 2026

With those adjustments, the team successfully produced cemented carbide through AM without sacrificing its hardness.

From Science Daily Aug. 4, 2026

This distinction is important because completely melting tungsten carbide can alter its internal structure and reduce the properties that make it valuable.

From Science Daily Aug. 4, 2026

If the technique can be refined for large-scale manufacturing, it could allow producers to place costly carbide only where it is needed.

From Science Daily Aug. 4, 2026

In the carbide light from a dozen watching headlamps, something glittered and shone in his cuts.

From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz

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