# carbon burning

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/carbon-burning
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The nucleosynthesis process, in stars of greater than 8 solar mass that have exhausted their helium supply, in which carbon is converted to neon, sodium, magnesium and other elements.

## Examples

- Massive stars begin carbon burning after they run out of helium.
- When a star reaches the end of its life, the core temperature rises enough to start carbon burning.
- In the final evolutionary stages of a high-mass star, carbon burning facilitates the synthesis of heavier elements like neon and magnesium.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.