carb

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈkärb 

slang

: carburetor

carb

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˈkärb 

variants or carbo

ˈkär-(ˌ)bō 

: carbohydrate

also : a high-carbohydrate food

—usually plural

carb-

3 of 3

combining form

variants or carbo-

: carbon : carbonic : carbonyl : carboxyl

carbide

carbohydrate

Examples of carb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Oscar winner turned into the late football legend for the upcoming biopic Madden by loading up on carbs, gaining 25 pounds. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2026

These carbs break down quickly and are absorbed into the bloodstream. — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2026

The glycemic index estimates what impact a food or drink’s carbs will have on blood sugar levels on a scale of 0-100. — Suchandrima Bhowmik, HEALTH, 3 Nov. 2026

The bagel renaissance hit a snag in the early 2000s when ~10% of Americans adopted diets like Atkins that cut out carbs. — HubSpot, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Combining form

French, from carbone

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1942, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1965, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing carb

• low-carb

Medical Definition

carb

noun

ˈkärb 

variants or carbo

ˈkär-ˌbō 

: carbohydrate

also : a high-carbohydrate food

—usually used in plural