carbonate
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
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carbonates,
present (3rd person singular)
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carbonated,
past participle, past
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carbonating
present participle
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to form into a carbonate.
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to charge or impregnate with carbon dioxide.
carbonated drinks.
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to make sprightly; enliven.
noun
verb
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to form or turn into a carbonate
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(tr) to treat with carbon dioxide or carbonic acid, as in the manufacture of soft drinks
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A salt or ester of carbonic acid, containing the group CO 3. The reaction of carbonic acid with a metal results in a salt (such as sodium carbonate), and the reaction of carbonic acid with an organic compound results in an ester (such as diethyl carbonate).
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Any other compound containing the group CO 3. Carbonates include minerals such as calcite and aragonite.
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Sediment or a sedimentary rock formed by the precipitation of organic or inorganic carbon from an aqueous solution of carbonates of calcium, magnesium, or iron. Limestone is a carbonate rock.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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carbonatornoun
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noncarbonatenoun
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noncarbonatedadjective
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semicarbonateadjective
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uncarbonatedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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carbonatesimple
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carbonatessimple
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have carbonatedperfect
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has carbonatedperfect
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am carbonatingprogressive
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are carbonatingprogressive
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is carbonatingprogressive
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have been carbonatingperfect progressive
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has been carbonatingperfect progressive
Past
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carbonatedsimple
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had carbonatedperfect
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was carbonatingprogressive
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were carbonatingprogressive
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had been carbonatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of carbonate
1785–95; carbon(ic acid) + -ate 2, later taken as -ate 1
Vocabulary lists containing carbonate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Analysis conducted after the reaction found that more than 75% of the carbon originally present in the plastic ended up in stable carbonate compounds or liquid organic residues.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026
The sodium carbonate can also be transformed into calcium carbonate through a straightforward recovery process.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026
Kambamura said PLZ had also nearly completed a plant to refine lithium carbonate, the next point along the processing sequence.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Its advanced chromatographic separation process is designed to recover critical minerals from several streams: mixed rare-earth carbonate, recycled magnets, mine tailings, industrial residues, zinc byproducts, electronic scrap and other secondary materials.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
“Oh, stuff like magnesium salts, and alcohol for keeping the Deltas and Epsilons small and backward, and calcium carbonate for bones, and all that sort of thing.”
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Since this liquid is alkaline, the CO2 reacts and forms carbonates.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 12, 2024
The carbonates suggested changes in water content that fit the primitive composition, while the olivine is a product of thermal decomposition of phyllosilicates at extreme temperatures.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 28, 2023
Take limestone, a chalky rock rich in minerals called carbonates.
From National Geographic ● Oct. 12, 2023
We capture carbon using a process called aqueous mineralization, where an alkaline solution is exposed to atmosphere, causing the formation of carbonates.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 18, 2023
A hotter surface would vaporize still more carbonates into CO,, and there would be the possibility of a runaway greenhouse effect to very high temperatures.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
"Everything is big, even the Coke is big," Baghdad says, referring to the carbonated beverage.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
The soda company installed coolers in a handful of Texas locations, stocking them with Coke’s non-soda brands such as Powerade, carbonated coffees and energy drinks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026
Soda syrup and carbonated water were kept just above freezing to trap more carbon dioxide and increase the fizz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026
The author also points out that carbonated water can affect the digestive system, especially in people with sensitive stomachs or existing gastrointestinal issues.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 17, 2026
“I look like a demented carbonated fountain,” he deadpanned.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
"So I think carbonating it and adding fruit flavour makes it more interesting. That's the real innovation."
From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2025
Whether or not fruit is added, the final step of cider making calls for carbonating the cider with CO2 to make it effervescent, and then it is either canned or kegged.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2021
However, according to NAS, fully carbonating these wastes could require building costly plants to speed the reactions.
From Science Magazine ● Sep. 3, 2020
Or it may contain additives such as “flavour enhancers, colours, emulsifiers, emulsifying salts, sweeteners, thickeners and anti-foaming, bulking, carbonating, foaming, gelling and glazing agents”.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 12, 2020
The sampling should be performed expeditiously to prevent carbonating, and portions placed in a stoppered bottle.
From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by W. H. Simmons
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
