carbon monoxide

noun

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Definition of carbon monoxide

: a colorless odorless very toxic gas CO that is formed as a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon or a carbon compound

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Recent Examples of carbon monoxide from the Web

In 1938, Flora Disney passed away of carbon monoxide poisoning in the house that her son, Walt, had purchased for her after the release of Snow White, his very first feature-length animated movie.

— refinery29.com, "The Subtle Reason Why Pixar Movies Differ From The Disney Classics Of Yore," 15 June 2018
The new Dunkin Donuts at 1169 Dundee Ave. donated $500, Blain’s Farm and Fleet contributed $300 plus discounted the cost of combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and Ziegler’s Ace Hardware also discounted the purchase price of detectors.

— michelle mullins, Elgin Courier-News, "Elgin News Digest," 15 June 2018
Last month, the commissioner gave O’Neill permission to comment on a case in Derry involving a man who killed himself and his 6-year-old son by carbon monoxide poisoning, but was uncomfortable doing so, O’Neill said.

— holly ramer, The Seattle Times, "Child advocate office could get more authority under bill," 22 Apr. 2018
Humphrey advised residents to never use a generator indoors, get heating equipment and appliances checked regularly, and make sure their carbon monoxide alarms work.

— alene tchekmedyian, latimes.com, "1 dead, 3 ill in possible carbon monoxide poisoning at Koreatown apartment complex," 9 Mar. 2018
That same year, Best Western ordered its hotels to install carbon monoxide alarms in all guest rooms.

— ames alexander, charlotteobserver, "Why are guests still dying from hotel gas leaks? | Charlotte Observer," 24 Jan. 2018
Three people died and four more were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning in Orlando.

— david whitley, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Will Central Florida learn Irma's lessons?," 1 June 2018
Handrails, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors were installed as part of the new safety initiative.

— quoron walker, Courant Community, "Rebuilding Together Grows," 29 May 2018
The research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that while the majority of rental properties—80 percent—were said to contain smoke detectors, only 56 percent were reportedly equipped with carbon monoxide detectors.

— susan soldavin, Howard County Times, "River Hill student's paper published by major journal [Clarksville]," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'carbon monoxide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of carbon monoxide

1868

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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CARBON MONOXIDE Defined for English Language Learners

carbon monoxide

noun

Definition of carbon monoxide for English Language Learners

: a poisonous gas that is formed when carbon is not completely burned and especially when gasoline is burned in car engines

CARBON MONOXIDE Defined for Kids

carbon monoxide

noun carbon mon·ox·ide \ -mə-ˈnäk-ˌsīd \

Definition of carbon monoxide for Students

: a colorless odorless very poisonous gas formed by incomplete burning of carbon

Medical Dictionary

carbon monoxide

noun

medical Definition of carbon monoxide

: a colorless odorless very toxic gas CO that burns to carbon dioxide with a blue flame and is formed as a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon