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
With a focus on environmental stability and sustainability, the company has made significant strides in reducing carbon emissions through its proprietary technologies.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
Environmentalists cringe at the implications for climate change — electricity generation accounts for one-quarter of U.S. carbon emissions, according to the EPA — but miners welcome the shift.
—Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
So green ammonia production could go a long way toward both servicing our energy needs, and reducing carbon emissions.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2025
But the true impact lies in their ethical foundation: reducing carbon emissions to combat climate change and protect future generations.
—Karlo Tanjuakio, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for carbon 
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Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
Environmentalists cringe at the implications for climate change — electricity generation accounts for one-quarter of U.S. carbon emissions, according to the EPA — but miners welcome the shift.
—Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
So green ammonia production could go a long way toward both servicing our energy needs, and reducing carbon emissions.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2025
But the true impact lies in their ethical foundation: reducing carbon emissions to combat climate change and protect future generations.
—Karlo Tanjuakio, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for carbon
Dictionary Entries Near carbon
Cite this Entry
“Carbon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carbon. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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Medical Definition
carbon
noun
car·bon
ˈkär-bən 
: 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
—symbol C
see Chemical Elements Table
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