ˈkɑ:bən n. 1 a non-metallic
element occurring
naturally as
diamond,
graphite,
and charcoal, and in
all organic compounds. °Symb.: C. 2 a = carbon
copy. b = carbon
paper. 3 a
rod of carbon in an
arc lamp. øcarbon
black a fine carbon
powder made by
burning hydrocarbons in
insufficient air. carbon copy 1 a copy made
with carbon paper. 2 a
person or
thing identical or
similar to
another (is a carbon copy of
his father). carbon
cycle Biol.
the cycle in
which carbon compounds are interconverted, usu. by
living organisms. carbon dating the
determination of the
age of an organic
object from the
ratio of isotopes which changes as carbon-14 decays. carbon
dioxide a
colourless odourless
gas occurring naturally in the
atmosphere and formed by
respiration. °Chem.
formula: CO[2]. carbon
disulphide a colourless
liquid used as a
solvent. °Chem. formula: CS[2]. carbon
fibre a
thin strong crystalline filament of carbon used as strengthening
material in resins,
ceramics, etc. carbon-14 a long-lived
radioactive carbon
isotope of mass 14, used in
radiocarbon dating, and as a
tracer in
biochemistry. carbon
monoxide a colourless odourless
toxic gas formed by the
incomplete burning of carbon. °Chem. formula:
CO. carbon paper a thin carbon-coated paper used
for making (esp. typed) copies. carbon
steel a steel with properties
dependent on the
percentage of carbon present. carbon tetrachloride a colourless
volatile liquid used as a solvent. °Chem. formula: CCl[4]. carbon-12 a carbon isotope of mass 12, used in calculations of
atomic mass units. [F carbone f. L carbo -onis charcoal]
