carbon
/ˈkɑɹ.bən/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.55 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The chemical element (symbol C) with an atomic number of 6. It can be found in pure form for example as graphite, a black, shiny and very soft material, or diamond, a colourless, transparent, crystalline solid and the hardest known material.
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "All life as we know it has carbon as the backbone of many of its molecules; carbon’s tetravalence gives it special importance in biochemical molecular bonds."
- "Carbon is the most common element in our bodies—indeed, in all living things on earth."
- "Fans will pump air through the alkaline stream, which causes carbon dioxide to form solid calcium carbonate, the material from which seashells are formed, which will look like a fine sand, as well as dissolved bicarbonate."
- "A methane molecule is made up of a single carbon with four hydrogens."
- "He stepped back and opened his bag and took out a printed pad of D.O.A. forms and began to write over a carbon."
- "Please provide me with a carbon of your form."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: carbō, *kerh₃-
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈkɑɹ.bən/
- British English: /ˈkɑːbən/