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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
Air conditioners use about 6% of all electricity produced in the U.S. and account for the release of 117 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
—Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 12 June 2024
Humanity spews nearly 40 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide each year through the burning of fossil fuels.
—Chelsea Harvey, Scientific American, 9 June 2024
Oxfam estimates that the 127-meter (416-foot) vessel has emitted 7,000 tons of carbon dioxide over the past year, an amount equal to the annual emissions of 445 average Americans.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune Europe, 9 June 2024
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is measured in parts per million, and measurements are taken at an observatory in Hawaii.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for carbon dioxide
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carbon dioxide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1867, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near carbon dioxide
Cite this Entry
“Carbon dioxide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carbon%20dioxide. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on carbon dioxide
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carbon dioxide
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