plural carbons
1
a
: a nonmetallic chemical element with atomic number 6 that readily forms compounds with many other elements and is a constituent of organic compounds in all known living tissues
—often used before another noun
carbon atoms
carbon life forms
carbon fibers
see Chemical Elements Table
b
: carbon dioxide
Forests, plants and natural lands can help absorb and store excess carbon from the atmosphere.—
Alex Baumhardt
—often used before another nounAlex Baumhardtcarbon emissions
Oil companies … are investing in carbon capture projects as public and investor pressures mount over climate change.—Paul Takahashi
Paul Takahashi2
: a carbon rod used in an arc lamp
3
a
: a sheet of carbon paper
b
Synonyms
Examples of carbon in a Sentence
a carbon of the document
this new digital camera is a carbon of a well-known model costing almost twice as much
Recent Examples on the Web
The country aims to zero out its carbon emissions by 2060, while Aramco’s net-zero target date is 2050.
—Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
California, for example, doesn’t account for greenhouse gases leaking out of unplugged oil wells or carbon emissions from biofuels, such as power plants that burn woody waste.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Swift has also received heat for the carbon emissions from her private jet, making sustainability and environmental protection something of a touchy subject for Swifties, who are quick to jump to her defense.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Seagrasses can store massive amounts of carbon that could be a crucial tool to help mitigate the climate crisis, marine biologist and study coauthor Dr. Austin Gallagher recently told CNN.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
In 2023, the use of renewable diesel in generators and heavy equipment eliminated 43 tons of carbon emissions.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2024
There is also a lot of carbon in that leaf, which holds energy that can be used by other organisms such as bacteria and fungi.
—Brian Darby, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Fewer executives expect the world to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to the firm's report.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
Examples under that heading include efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
California, for example, doesn’t account for greenhouse gases leaking out of unplugged oil wells or carbon emissions from biofuels, such as power plants that burn woody waste.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Swift has also received heat for the carbon emissions from her private jet, making sustainability and environmental protection something of a touchy subject for Swifties, who are quick to jump to her defense.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Seagrasses can store massive amounts of carbon that could be a crucial tool to help mitigate the climate crisis, marine biologist and study coauthor Dr. Austin Gallagher recently told CNN.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
In 2023, the use of renewable diesel in generators and heavy equipment eliminated 43 tons of carbon emissions.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2024
There is also a lot of carbon in that leaf, which holds energy that can be used by other organisms such as bacteria and fungi.
—Brian Darby, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Fewer executives expect the world to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to the firm's report.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
Examples under that heading include efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carbon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near carbon
Cite this Entry
“Carbon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carbon. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
carbon
noun
car·bon
ˈkär-bən 
often attributive
: a nonmetallic element found native (as in diamonds and graphite) or as a constituent of coal, petroleum, asphalt, limestone, and organic compounds or obtained artificially (as in activated charcoal)
—symbol C
see Chemical Elements Table
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