carbonize

American  

[kahr-buh-nahyz] / ˈkɑr bəˌnaɪz /

especially British, carbonise

verb (used with object)

carbonized, carbonizing

1. to char (organic matter) until it forms carbon.

2. to coat or enrich with carbon.

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verb (used without object)

carbonized, carbonizing

1. to become carbonized.

carbonize British  

/ ˈkɑːbəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to turn or be turned into carbon as a result of heating, fossilization, chemical treatment, etc

2. (tr) to enrich or coat (a substance) with carbon

3. (intr) to react or unite with carbon

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Other Word Forms

• carbonizable adjective
• carbonization noun
• carbonizer noun
• uncarbonized adjective

Etymology

Origin of carbonize

First recorded in 1800–10; carbon + -ize

Example Sentences

With the right equipment, we all have the ability to sous vide, slap chop, air fry, spiralize, carbonize and even slice our own bananas.

From Salon • Jan. 29, 2014

Empyreu�ma, the smell arising from organic matter when subjected to the action of fire, but not enough to carbonize it entirely.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 2: Ebert to Estremadura by Various

Of course, the method employed to carbonize the materials is suspectible of variation, but the scientific principles involved are unchangeable, viz.:

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 601, July 9, 1887 by Various

He began to carbonize everything in nature that he could lay hands on.

From Edison, His Life and Inventions by Dyer, Frank Lewis

When the dust thus produced begins to carbonize, the pressure and velocity are increased.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 392, July 7, 1883 by Various

Related Words

• burn