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

This reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and turned soil into the first terrestrial carbon sinks. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

The stakes are especially high in the Amazon, which stores vast amounts of carbon dioxide and generates atmospheric moisture that helps regulate weather far beyond South America. — Gabriela Sá Pessoa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

The project will introduce machinery that ADB expects to save about 4,840 megawatt-hours of electricity and avoid about 2,222 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions annually. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026

Environmental groups estimate now, without stricter standards, cars could produce 22,111 more tons of carbon dioxide per year than under the Biden-era rules in 2035. — Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026

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