carbon

American  

[kahr-buhn] / ˈkɑr bən /

noun

• carbons
  plural

1. Chemistry. a widely distributed element that forms organic compounds in combination with hydrogen, oxygen, etc., and that occurs in a pure state as diamond and graphite, and in an impure state as charcoal. C; 12.011; 6; (of diamond) 3.51 at 20°C; (of graphite) 2.26 at 20°C.

2. carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds that are emitted into the atmosphere and cause rising temperatures.

   the carbon produced by burning fossil fuels.

3. carbon copy.

4. a sheet of carbon paper.

5. Electricity.

   1. the carbon rod through which current is conducted between the electrode holder and the arc in carbon arc lighting or welding.

   2. the rod or plate, composed in part of carbon, used in batteries.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or noting the element carbon or any of its compounds, especially carbon dioxide.

   to reduce carbon emissions.

carbon British  

/ ˈkɑːbən /

noun

1. 1. a nonmetallic element existing in the three crystalline forms: graphite, diamond, and buckminsterfullerene: occurring in carbon dioxide, coal, oil, and all organic compounds. The isotope carbon-12 has been adopted as the standard for atomic wt; carbon-14 , a radioisotope with a half-life of 5700 years, is used in radiocarbon dating and as a tracer. Symbol: C; atomic no: 6; atomic wt: 12.011; valency: 2, 3, or 4; relative density: 1.8–2.1 (amorphous), 1.9–2.3 (graphite), 3.15–3.53 (diamond); sublimes at 3367±25°C; boiling pt: 4827°C

   2. ( as modifier )

      a carbon compound

2. short for carbon paper carbon copy

3. a carbon electrode used in a carbon-arc light or in carbon-arc welding

4. a rod or plate, made of carbon, used in some types of battery

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carbon Scientific  

/ kär′bən /

1. A naturally abundant, nonmetallic element that occurs in all organic compounds and can be found in all known forms of life. Diamonds and graphite are pure forms, and carbon is a major constituent of coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Carbon generally forms four covalent bonds with other atoms in larger molecules. Atomic number 6; atomic weight 12.011; sublimation point above 3,500°C; boiling point 4,827°C; specific gravity of amorphous carbon 1.8 to 2.1, of diamond 3.15 to 3.53, of graphite 1.9 to 2.3; valence 2, 3, 4.

2. See Periodic Table

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carbon Cultural  

1. A chemical element; its symbol is C. The carbon nucleus has six protons and six or more neutrons; six electrons are in orbit around the carbon nucleus. (See hydrocarbons and organic molecules (see also organic molecule).)

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Discover More

Carbon forms the basis for all living tissue.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncarbon
  noun
• carbonless
  adjective
• carbonous
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• carbons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of carbon

1780–90; < French carbone, coinage based on Latin carbōn- (stem of carbō ) charcoal

Explanation

Carbon is an element that takes the solid form of either graphite or diamond. Carbon is one of the basic elements of any living thing. Carbon is known as the most essential element for life, and it's the second most abundant — after oxygen — in the human body. Carbon paper was an early method of making copies, using a sheet of paper coated with wax and, originally, carbon soot. The copy that results from writing or typing on paper that's placed on top, with a blank page beneath the carbon paper, is called a carbon copy. The Latin root of carbon is carbonem, "charcoal."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

carbon carbons

It said the council was "broadly on track" to meet its 2030 net zero targets, stating that its carbon emissions have been reduced by around 60%.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

Proponents of max-cushion shoes, particularly those with an embedded carbon plate, point to studies that suggest the shoes improve running economy and performance by 4% and 2%, respectively.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

Simmons later reported that a man had died from carbon monoxide poisoning after running a generator in a garage that was not properly ventilated.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

Bogs currently store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests but are disappearing faster.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

More precise dates did not come in until the 1950s, when Willard F. Libby, a chemist at the University of Chicago, invented carbon dating.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

In typical alkenes, the carbons adopt a trigonal planar geometry, creating a flat structure around the double bond.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 23, 2026

Particularly intriguing was the large number of carbon atoms bound specifically to three other carbons and one oxygen atom, a structure being very rare in biomolecules.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 24, 2024

Energy Information Administration, the global supply of crude oil, other liquid carbons, and biofuels is expected to meet global demand through 2050.

From Seattle Times ● May 5, 2023

A particular ceramide’s character depends on the size of its acyl tail, a portion of the molecule that can contain from 12 to more than 26 carbons.

From Science Magazine ● Mar. 15, 2023

The winter night blew in with frosty wind, and the street lamps with their sputtering carbons swung restlessly and made the shadows dart back and forth like a runner trying to steal second base.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• graphite
• soot