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
Read full article This lack of financing is one of the biggest issues dividing rich and poor nations as the world struggles to slash carbon dioxide emissions.
—
Max Bearak, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2023
Polluters have trashed the world’s atmosphere with carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 5 Sep. 2023
The event reports its carbon footprint to be 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide, more than 90 percent of which is accounted for by travel to and from the site.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 4 Sep. 2023
In addition to creating an alternative cement, the process also absorbs carbon dioxide as the two materials react.
—Yusuf Khan, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2023
The fires have removed wooded areas capable of absorbing 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide a year.
—Costas Kantouris and Elena Becatoros, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Aug. 2023
This final stage will contribute to the GWP of the environmental impact assessment at 33 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent.
—Gabriella Sotelo, Treehugger, 24 Aug. 2023
Climate change has caused the leaves on some plants in tropical forests to stop undergoing photosynthesis -- the process in which plants and other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water, according to a study published Wednesday in Nature.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2023
To create the new, charcoal-like additive, the team employed a low-energy process known as pyrolysis, in which organic waste is heated to 350 degrees Celsius without oxygen to avoid generating carbon dioxide.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Aug. 2023
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Max Bearak, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2023
Polluters have trashed the world’s atmosphere with carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 5 Sep. 2023
The event reports its carbon footprint to be 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide, more than 90 percent of which is accounted for by travel to and from the site.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 4 Sep. 2023
In addition to creating an alternative cement, the process also absorbs carbon dioxide as the two materials react.
—Yusuf Khan, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2023
The fires have removed wooded areas capable of absorbing 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide a year.
—Costas Kantouris and Elena Becatoros, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Aug. 2023
This final stage will contribute to the GWP of the environmental impact assessment at 33 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent.
—Gabriella Sotelo, Treehugger, 24 Aug. 2023
Climate change has caused the leaves on some plants in tropical forests to stop undergoing photosynthesis -- the process in which plants and other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water, according to a study published Wednesday in Nature.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2023
To create the new, charcoal-like additive, the team employed a low-energy process known as pyrolysis, in which organic waste is heated to 350 degrees Celsius without oxygen to avoid generating carbon dioxide.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Aug. 2023
See More
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 25 Sep. 2023.
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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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