carbon

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The chemical element (symbol C) with an atomic number of 6. It can be found in pure form for example as graphite, a black, shiny and very soft material, or diamond, a colourless, transparent, crystalline solid and the hardest known material.

   All life as we know it has carbon as the backbone of many of its molecules; carbon’s tetravalence gives it special importance in biochemical molecular bonds.

2. 2
   noun

   An atom of this element, in reference to a molecule containing it.

   A methane molecule is made up of a single carbon with four hydrogens.

3. 3
   noun

   A sheet of carbon paper.

   He stepped back and opened his bag and took out a printed pad of D.O.A. forms and began to write over a carbon.

4. 4
   noun

   A carbon copy.

   Please provide me with a carbon of your form.

5. 5
   noun

   Soot.

   Every morning she cleaned the carbon from the lamp chimneys.

6. 6
   noun

   Ellipsis of carbon dioxide.

   carbon neutral

7. 7
   noun

   A carbon rod or pencil used in an arc lamp.

   To trim an arc lamp, first remove the old carbons and carefully and thoroughly wipe the carbon rods, holders, &c. with a clean, dry rag.

8. 8
   noun

   Ellipsis of carbon fiber (reinforced polymer).

   carbon bike frame

Etymology

Borrowed from French carbone, coined by Antoine Lavoisier, from Latin carbō, carbōnem (“charcoal, coal”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *kerh₃- (“to burn”). By surface analysis, carbo- + -on.