carbon dioxide

noun

: a heavy colorless gas CO₂ that does not support combustion, dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, is formed especially in animal respiration and in the decay or combustion of animal and vegetable matter, is absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis, and is used in the carbonation of beverages

Examples of carbon dioxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Methane is a major contributor to climate change and is estimated to be 80 times more planet-warming than carbon dioxide in a twenty-year time frame. — Kirk Siegler, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026

Oil and gas operations are the largest industrial source of methane, which is the main component in natural gas and far more potent to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide in the short term. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

Unlike conventional hydrogen production, which largely depends on fossil fuels, the process emits no carbon dioxide when powered by renewable energy. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026

Yeast is what turns sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide during fermentation. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for carbon dioxide

• acetamide
• acetonide
• acidified
• antimonide
• beatified
• benzaldehyde
• borohydride
• chalcogenide
• commodified
• decalcified
• declassified
• disaccharide

Kids Definition

carbon dioxide

noun

: a heavy colorless gas CO₂ that is formed especially by the burning and breaking down of organic substances (as in animal respiration), is absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis, and has many industrial uses

Medical Definition

carbon dioxide

noun

: a heavy colorless gas CO₂ that does not support combustion, dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, is formed especially in animal respiration and in the decay or combustion of animal and vegetable matter, is absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis, and is used in the carbonation of beverages