carbide

[kahr-bahyd, -bid]

noun

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

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

Origin of carbide

First recorded in 1860–65; carb- + -ide

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for carbide

Historical Examples of carbide

The carbide lamps were held close to the fuses for a second.
The Cross-Cut
Courtney Ryley Cooper
Harry unhooked his carbide from his belt, lit it and looked around.
The Cross-Cut
Courtney Ryley Cooper
The carbide falls into the generator, the bottom of which is open.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 1082, September 26, 1896
Various
Fig. 10 applies to the introduction of the carbide into the water.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 1082, September 26, 1896
Various
There, I meant to fill the carbide tank to-day, said Ned, but I forgot all about it.
The Motor Boys Afloat
Clarence Young

British Dictionary definitions for carbide

carbide

noun

a binary compound of carbon with a more electropositive elementSee also acetylide

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

Word Origin and History for carbide

compound formed by combination of carbon and another element, 1848, from carb-, comb. form of carbon + chemical suffix -ide. The earlier word was carburet.

carbide in Science

carbide

[kär′bīd′]

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.