Meanings
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1
noun
a salt or ester of carbonic acid, typically containing the carbonate ion CO3^2-
The limestone consists mainly of calcium carbonate.
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2
verb
to dissolve carbon dioxide in a liquid, especially to make a drink fizzy
The machine carbonates the water just before it is bottled.
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3
verb
to convert a substance into a carbonate
Exposure to carbon dioxide can slowly carbonate the surface of concrete.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Borrowed from French carbonate, formed from carbone ("carbon") + -ate, the chemical suffix used for salts of acids ending in -ic. The noun names salts or esters of carbonic acid. The verb developed from treating a substance with carbon dioxide or converting it into a carbonate, hence carbonated drinks.