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carbon 14
noun
: a heavy radioactive isotope of carbon of mass number 14 used especially in tracer studies and in dating old materials (such as archaeological and geologic specimens)
Examples of carbon 14 in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After death the radioactive carbon 14 atoms begin to decay, changing into stable atoms of nitrogen.
—James Shreeve, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
But some is made up of the unstable, radioactive form carbon 14.
—James Shreeve, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Skeptics questioned the dating method used in the 2021 study, which measured the levels of radioactive carbon 14 in seeds of the freshwater plant Ruppia cirrhosa—also known as spiral ditchgrass—in layers of sediment above and below the footprints.
—Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2023
Miyake’s efforts paid off, however, when the data revealed an anomalously large increase in the concentration of carbon 14 precisely in the year C.E. 775.
—Katherine Kornei, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2023
Her goal was to measure the amount of carbon 14—a radioactive isotope of carbon commonly used to date archaeological artifacts.
—Katherine Kornei, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2023
The researchers followed up with tree rings and saw a corresponding spike of carbon 14.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 13 Sep. 2021
Studying carbon 14 data in tree rings from this era, the team found another spike.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 13 Sep. 2021
Poring through them for events such as carbon 14 spikes is time-consuming, however.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 13 Sep. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carbon 14.' 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
1946, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near carbon 14
Cite this Entry
“Carbon 14.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carbon%2014. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
carbon 14
noun-(ˈ)fōr(t)-ˈtēn,
-(ˈ)fȯr-
: a heavy radioactive form of carbon of mass number 14 used especially in finding out the age of very old remains (as bones or charcoal) of formerly living materials
Medical Definition
carbon 14
noun
: a heavy radioactive isotope of carbon of mass number 14 used especially in tracer studies and in dating archaeological and geological materials
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