First Known Use: 1789
Dictionary
carbon
noun, car·bon often attributive \ˈkär-bən\
: a chemical element that forms diamonds and coal and that is found in petroleum and in all living plants and animals
Full Definition of CARBON
1
: a nonmetallic chiefly tetravalent element found native (as in diamond and graphite) or as a constituent of coal, petroleum, and asphalt, of limestone and other carbonates, and of organic compounds or obtained artificially in varying degrees of purity especially as carbon black, lampblack, activated carbon, charcoal, and coke — see element table
2
: a carbon rod used in an arc lamp
3
a : a sheet of carbon paper b : carbon copy
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Origin of CARBON
French carbone, from Latin carbon-, carbo ember, charcoal
Related to CARBON
- Synonyms
- alter ego, image, carbon copy, clone, counterpart, doppelgänger (or doppelganger), double, duplicate, duplication, facsimile, fetch, likeness, look-alike, match, mirror image, picture, replica, ringer, spit, spitting image, twin
Other Biochemistry Terms
Rhymes with CARBON
CARBON Defined for Kids
carbon
noun car·bon \ˈkär-bən\
Definition of CARBON for Kids
: a chemical element occurring as diamond and graphite, in coal and petroleum, and in plant and animal bodies
Medical Dictionary
carbon
noun , car·bon often attrib \ˈkär-bən\
Medical Definition of CARBON
: 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 Celsius; see element table
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