c

1 of 5

noun

ˈsē 

plural c's or cs ˈsēz 

often capitalized, often attributive

1

a

: the 3rd letter of the English alphabet

b

: a graphic representation of this letter

c

: a speech counterpart of orthographic c

2

a

: one hundred see Table of Numbers

b

slang : a sum of $100

3

: the keynote of a C-major scale

4

: a graphic device for reproducing the letter c

5

: one designated c especially as the third in order or class

6

a

: a grade rating a student's work as fair or mediocre in quality

b

: one graded or rated with a C

7

: something shaped like the letter C

8

: a structured language for creating computer programs that is designed to be compact and efficient

c

2 of 5

abbreviation (1)

1

calm

2

calorie

3

canceled

4

candle

5

canine (see canine entry 1 sense 1)

6

carat

7

catcher

8

cent

9

centavo

10

centi-

11

centime

12

centimeter

13

century

14

chapter

15

charm (see charm entry 1 sense 5)

16

circa

17

circumference

18

clonus

19

closure

20

cocaine

21

coefficient

22

college

23

[Latin congius] gallon

24

contralto

25

copyright

26

cubic

27

or c̄ [Latin cum] with

—used in writing prescriptions

28

cup

29

curie

c

3 of 5

symbol (1)

usually italic

speed of light

C

4 of 5

abbreviation (2)

1

capacitance

2

Celsius

3

centigrade

4

cervical

—used especially with a number from 1 to 7 to indicate a vertebra or segment of the spinal cord

5

Coulomb

6

cytosine

C

5 of 5

symbol (2)

carbon

Did you know?

Words Starting With C

Browse 33,831 words and phrases that start with the letter C, from caaing whale to czechize.

Examples of c in a Sentence

Noun

The word “access” is spelled with two cs.

Many English words begin with c.

a song in the key of C

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The study notes that the detection is not yet totally confirmed, as the single transit of L 98-59 c, while promising, limits the conclusions that can be drawn. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2025

Planet c is the heavyweight of the bunch, with a mass 33.5% that of Earth's. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Mar. 2025

This is unique, beautifully elegant and not out of some c***** home decor store. —Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025

Two new additions include a c-button on one of the Joy-Cons and new PC mouse-like movement for both Joy-Cons. —Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing c

• c to c
• cytochrome c

Kids Definition

c

noun

ˈsē

often capitalized

1

: the third letter of the English alphabet

2

: one hundred in Roman numerals

3

: a musical note referred to by the letter C : the tone on which a C-major scale is based

4

: a grade rating a student's work as fair or mediocre

Medical Definition

c

1 of 3 abbreviation

1

calorie

2

canine

3

cathode

4

centimeter

5

clonus

6

closure

7

cobalt

8

coefficient

9

contact

10

contraction

11

coulomb

12

curie

13

cylinder

14

or c̄ [Latin cum] with

—used in writing prescriptions

C

2 of 3 abbreviation

1

Celsius

2

centigrade

3

cervical

—used especially with a number from 1 to 7 to indicate a vertebra or segment of the spinal cord

4

cocaine

5

complement

6

congius

7

cytosine

C

3 of 3 symbol

carbon

Legal Definition

c

abbreviation

copyright