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

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Etymology

Origin of carbon

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

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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

Poso’s owner, Long Beach-based California Resources Corp., advertises itself as “a carbon management company that develops emissions reducing projects.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

To get there, warming must peak around 1.8C by 2050 and vast amounts of carbon dioxide would have to be removed from the atmosphere to bring temperatures down further.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

Swathes of smouldering forest, swamp and peatlands have turned the air thick with microparticles and carbon monoxide, creating a noxious cloud that has swaddled Indonesia and drifted as far as Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

White dwarfs containing large amounts of carbon often appear pink or purple.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

Working before the invention of carbon dating, they had no way to determine Aspero’s age.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

"It's very unusual to find a sterol with 30 carbons," Shawar says.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 27, 2026

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

From Science Daily ● Jan. 23, 2026

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

“Those other carbons, the other suspects you’re supposed to test and retire. I know them all.”

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

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Related Words

• graphite
• soot

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