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carbon dioxide
noun
: a heavy colorless gas CO2 that does not support combustion, dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, is formed especially in animal respiration and in the decay or combustion of animal and vegetable matter, is absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis, and is used in the carbonation of beverages
Examples of carbon dioxide in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Russ Wiles Arizona utility Salt River Project has revised its long-term sustainability goals with more ambitious targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions, support the adoption of more electric vehicles and reduce the amount of water used to generate power.
—The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024
Topline Global carbon dioxide emissions hit another record high in 2023, but the increase was smaller than the previous year due to the strong expansion of renewable sources, the International Energy Agency reported Friday.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
The proportions of different carbon isotopes is changed by the ratio of how much carbon dioxide is concentrated between leaf cells and their surrounding environment.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024
The climate plan, which has come under fire by local environmental groups, estimated Sacramento’s annual greenhouse gas pollution at about 3.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually — 94% of which come from transportation and buildings.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024
However, the lithium-ion cell remains the best in terms of cradle-to-gate impact on climate change, accounting for 30.9 kilograms of emitted carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour generated, followed by the SiCPAN cell.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Feb. 2024
The largest steel producer in the U.S., Indiana ranked as the 8th largest carbon dioxide emitter in the country for 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Feb. 2024
Of more concern to environmentalists is the propellant in many inhalers, typically a fluorinated gas that is a more powerful driver of global warming than carbon dioxide.
—Ted Alcorn, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024
The justices have restricted EPA’s authority to fight air and water pollution — including a landmark 2022 ruling that limited EPA's authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming.
—Matthew Daly, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carbon dioxide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1867, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near carbon dioxide
Cite this Entry
“Carbon dioxide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carbon%20dioxide. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.
Kids Definition
carbon dioxide
noun
: a heavy colorless gas CO2 that is formed especially by the burning and breaking down of organic substances (as in animal respiration), is absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis, and has many industrial uses
Medical Definition
carbon dioxide
noun
: a heavy colorless gas CO2 that does not support combustion, dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, is formed especially in animal respiration and in the decay or combustion of animal and vegetable matter, is absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis, and is used in the carbonation of beverages
More from Merriam-Webster on carbon dioxide
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carbon dioxide
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