carbon monoxide

noun

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

Examples of carbon monoxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The machines — which are used by many Americans during power outages after severe storms — emit more carbon monoxide than cars and cause about 70 accidental deaths a year. — Juliet Eilperin, chicagotribune.com, "Emails reveal close rapport between top EPA officials and those they regulate," 1 July 2018 The machines — which are used by many Americans during power outages after severe storms — emit more carbon monoxide than cars and cause about 70 accidental deaths a year. — Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post, "Emails reveal close rapport between top EPA officials, those they regulate," 1 July 2018 Similar transitions occur for other compounds, like carbon monoxide and ammonia. — Joshua Sokol, WIRED, "These Spinning Disks of Gas and Dust Reveal How Planets Get Made," 28 May 2018 For instance, using this method astronomers have learned that HR 8799e is a hot, inhospitable world made of carbon monoxide and methane. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "New Method For Studying Exoplanets Could Tell Us Far More About Alien Worlds," 29 Mar. 2019 Methylene chloride turns into carbon monoxide and can be inhaled even when those using it wear a mask. — Natalie Dreier, ajc, "Lowe’s pulls paint strippers with deadly ingredients," 30 May 2018 Boyle's dog was also found deceased, having succumbed to exposure to carbon monoxide. — Madeleine Marr, miamiherald, "He carefully planned his suicide. But the plan went horribly awry, cops say.," 30 May 2018 The school remained closed March 23 while the fire department and other air quality professionals monitored the buildings for carbon monoxide. — Jordyn Noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Carbon monoxide has not been detected within Oconomowoc High School and Arts Center," 11 Apr. 2018 Mars' atmosphere is 95.97 percent carbon dioxide, 1.89 percent nitrogen, 1.93 percent argon, 0.0557 percent carbon monoxide and just 0.146 percent oxygen. — Chris Ciaccia, Fox News, "How Buzz Aldrin wants to make Mars habitable," 28 June 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.

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Dictionary Entries near carbon monoxide

carbon-nitrogen cycle

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Last Updated

9 May 2019

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Time Traveler for carbon monoxide

The first known use of carbon monoxide was in 1868

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More Definitions for carbon monoxide

carbon monoxide

noun

English Language Learners Definition of carbon monoxide

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

See the full definition for carbon monoxide in the English Language Learners Dictionary

carbon monoxide

noun

carbon mon·ox·ide | \ -mə-ˈnäk-ˌsīd\

Kids Definition of carbon monoxide

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

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