# carbon

/ˈkɑɹbən/ (US) · /kˈɑːbən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/carbon
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. chemical element

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a chemical element found in diamonds, coal, and all living things.

For teachers: the chemical element with atomic number 6, occurring in all organic compounds and in various allotropes such as graphite and diamond.

- All life on Earth is based on the element carbon.
- The unique ability of carbon to form stable bonds with many elements allows it to serve as the fundamental building block of complex organic molecules.

### 2. greenhouse gas emissions

noun · CEFR B2

gases like carbon dioxide that are released into the air and cause global warming.

For teachers: used as a shorthand for carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the context of climate change and environmental policy.

- The government is trying to reduce the country's carbon footprint.
- International treaties aim to limit carbon output by incentivizing industries to transition toward renewable energy sources and more efficient manufacturing processes.

### 3. carbon fiber

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a very strong, light material used to make things like bikes or car parts.

For teachers: a lightweight, high-strength material made of thin filaments of carbon, often used in aerospace and high-performance sporting goods.

- His new racing bike is made entirely of carbon.
- The aerospace engineer specified a carbon composite for the fuselage to maximize the aircraft's fuel efficiency without sacrificing structural integrity.

### 4. carbon paper or copy

noun · CEFR C1 · Archaic

a special paper used to make a copy of something you write or type.

For teachers: a sheet of paper coated with a dark waxy pigment, used for making one or more copies of a document simultaneously with the original.

- He put a piece of carbon between the pages to make a duplicate.
- Before the advent of digital word processing and photocopiers, clerks relied on carbon paper to produce multiple copies of legal contracts.

## Examples

- Plants absorb carbon from the air to grow.
- The government is introducing a new tax to help companies reduce their total carbon footprint.
- While carbon is essential for the formation of complex biological molecules, its excessive release into the atmosphere in the form of CO2 has significantly accelerated the global greenhouse effect.

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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.