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

The idea is to use solid oxide fuel cells to generate electricity from LNG while simultaneously capturing the resulting carbon dioxide, liquefying it, and storing it on the ship for later offloading at port. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

Once reached, the Amazon would lose the ability to sustain itself and vast swathes would transform into savannah, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and also a massive release of carbon dioxide. —Justin Worland, Time, 9 May 2025

Coal plants are also the dirtiest fossil fuel in terms of planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025

Carbonate minerals contain carbon dioxide, which, when present in the atmosphere, warms a planet. —Elisabeth M. Hausrath, The Conversation, 6 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for carbon dioxide

• acetamide
• acetonide
• acidified
• antimonide
• beatified
• benzaldehyde
• borohydride
• chalcogenide
• commodified
• decalcified
• declassified
• disaccharide

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