carbonate

B2 Topic:Materials & Substances

US noun /ˈkɑːrbənət/ verb /ˈkɑːrbəneɪt/ UK noun /ˈkɑːbənət/ verb /ˈkɑːbəneɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #38773

Meanings

1

noun
a salt or ester of carbonic acid, typically containing the carbonate ion CO3^2-

US /ˈkɑːrbənət/ UK /ˈkɑːbənət/

The limestone consists mainly of calcium carbonate.
2

verb
to dissolve carbon dioxide in a liquid, especially to make a drink fizzy

US /ˈkɑːrbəneɪt/ UK /ˈkɑːbəneɪt/

The machine carbonates the water just before it is bottled.
3

verb
to convert a substance into a carbonate

US /ˈkɑːrbəneɪt/ UK /ˈkɑːbəneɪt/

Exposure to carbon dioxide can slowly carbonate the surface of concrete.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to dissolve carbon dioxide... aerate

Word family

Derived forms carbonatedcarbonationcarbonator

Related forms carbon carbonic acidbicarbonatecarbon dioxide

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

lithium carbonate
a white lithium compound used in glassmaking, ceramics, and certain medicines

Noun + noun
calcium carbonate
a calcium salt that occurs naturally in limestone, chalk, and several minerals

Noun + noun

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.

Topics

Materials & Substances

External links

# carbonate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɑːrbənət/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkɑːbənət/
**Frequency rank:** 38773

## Meanings
1. a salt or ester of carbonic acid, typically containing the carbonate ion CO3^2-
2. to dissolve carbon dioxide in a liquid, especially to make a drink fizzy
3. to convert a substance into a carbonate

## Examples
- The limestone consists mainly of calcium carbonate.
- The machine carbonates the water just before it is bottled.
- Exposure to carbon dioxide can slowly carbonate the surface of concrete.

## Derived Forms
- carbonated
- carbonation
- carbonator

## Related Forms
- carbon
- carbonic acid
- bicarbonate
- carbon dioxide

## 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.

## Topics
- Materials & Substances

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