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• carbo
  carbo

  noun

  carbohydrate.
• carbo-
  carbo-

  a combining form used in the names of chemical compounds in which carbon is present.

carbo

¹ American  

[kahr-boh] / ˈkɑr boʊ /

noun

Informal.

carbos plural

1. carbohydrate.

2. a food having a high carbohydrate content.

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carbo- ² American  

1. a combining form used in the names of chemical compounds in which carbon is present.

   carbohydrate.

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carbo- British  

combining form

1. carbon

   carbohydrate

   carbonate

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Usage

What does carbo- mean? The combining form carbo- is used like a prefix meaning “carbon.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in chemistry. The form carbo- ultimately comes from Latin carbō, meaning “charcoal.” Yes, charcoal. The dishes carbonara and carbonade are also related to the Latin carbō. The Greek translation of Latin carbō is ánthrax, “charcoal” or “carbuncle,” which is the source of the word anthrax. Find out more at our entry for the word. What are variants of carbo-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, carbo- becomes carb-, as in carbene. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for carb-.

Etymology

Origin of carbo

By shortening; cf. -o

Example Sentences

It is hard to do--our culture is carbo- and wheat-driven.

From Time Magazine Archive

Among the various forms of dynamite that are manufactured is carbo- dynamite, the invention of Messrs Walter F. Reid and W.D.

From Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise by Sanford, P. Gerald (Percy Gerald)