Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

carbon 13

noun

Definition of carbon 13

: an isotope of carbon of mass number 13 that constitutes about ¹/₇₀ of natural carbon and is used as a tracer especially in spectroscopy utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance

First Known Use of carbon 13

1936

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Learn More about carbon 13

  1. See words that rhyme with carbon 13

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up carbon 13? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games