Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

car·bon       (kär'bən)  Pronunciation Key  n.   Symbol C A naturally abundant nonmetallic element that occurs in many inorganic and in all organic compounds, exists freely as graphite and diamond and as a constituent of coal, limestone, and petroleum, and is capable of chemical self-bonding to form an enormous number of chemically, biologically, and commercially important molecules. Atomic number 6; atomic weight 12.011; sublimation point above 3,500°C; boiling point 4,827°C; specific gravity of amorphous carbon 1.8 to 2.1, of diamond 3.15 to 3.53, of graphite 1.9 to 2.3; valence 2, 3, 4. See Table at element. A sheet of carbon paper. A carbon copy. Either of two rods through which current flows to form an arc, as in lighting or welding. A carbonaceous electrode in an electric cell. Electricity Either of two rods through which current flows to form an arc, as in lighting or welding. A carbonaceous electrode in an electric cell. [French carbone, from Latin carbō, carbōn-, a coal, charcoal; see ker-3 in Indo-European roots.] car'bon·ous (-bə-nəs) adj.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
carbon 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

carbon
noun
1.	an abundant nonmetallic tetravalent element occurring in three allotropic forms: amorphous carbon and graphite and diamond; occurs in all organic compounds
2.	a thin paper coated on one side with a dark waxy substance (often containing carbon); used to transfer characters from the original to an under sheet of paper [syn: carbon paper]
3.	a copy made with carbon paper

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

carbon       (kär'bən)  Pronunciation Key  Symbol C A naturally abundant, nonmetallic element that occurs in all organic compounds and can be found in all known forms of life. Diamonds and graphite are pure forms, and carbon is a major constituent of coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Carbon generally forms four covalent bonds with other atoms in larger molecules. Atomic number 6; atomic weight 12.011; sublimation point above 3,500°C; boiling point 4,827°C; specific gravity of amorphous carbon 1.8 to 2.1, of diamond 3.15 to 3.53, of graphite 1.9 to 2.3; valence 2, 3, 4. See Periodic Table. carbonaceous adjective

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
carbon

A chemical element; its symbol is C. The carbon nucleus has six protons and six or more neutrons; six electrons are in orbit around the carbon nucleus. (See hydrocarbons and organic molecules.)

Note: Carbon forms the basis for all living tissue.

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

carbon car·bon (kär'bən)
n.
Symbol C
A nonmetallic element occuring in many inorganic and in all organic compounds, existing as graphite and diamond and as a constituent of coal, limestone, and petroleum, and capable of chemical self-bonding to form a number of important molecules. Atomic number 6; atomic weight 12.01115; sublimation point above 3,500°C; melting point 3,550°C; specific gravity of amorphous carbon 1.8 to 2.1, of diamond 3.15 to 3.53, of graphite 1.9 to 2.3; valence 2, 3, 4.

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Carbon Hill, AL (city, FIPS 12016) Location: 33.89582 N, 87.52504 W
Population (1990): 2115 (941 housing units)
Area: 12.5 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 35549

Carbon Cliff, IL (village, FIPS 11150) Location: 41.49763 N, 90.39035 W
Population (1990): 1492 (562 housing units)
Area: 4.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Carbon County, MT (county, FIPS 9) Location: 45.23209 N, 109.02180 W
Population (1990): 8080 (4828 housing units)
Area: 5304.5 sq km (land), 36.8 sq km (water)

Carbon County, PA (county, FIPS 25) Location: 40.92271 N, 75.70212 W
Population (1990): 56846 (27380 housing units)
Area: 990.8 sq km (land), 16.1 sq km (water)

Carbon County, UT (county, FIPS 7) Location: 39.64391 N, 110.58278 W
Population (1990): 20228 (8713 housing units)
Area: 3829.5 sq km (land), 15.8 sq km (water)

Carbon County, WY (county, FIPS 7) Location: 41.69125 N, 106.93049 W
Population (1990): 16659 (8190 housing units)
Area: 20452.1 sq km (land), 175.8 sq km (water)

Carbon Hill, IL (village, FIPS 11176) Location: 41.29628 N, 88.29947 W
Population (1990): 362 (139 housing units)
Area: 0.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Carbon, WV Zip code(s): 25122

Carbon, TX (town, FIPS 12736) Location: 32.26858 N, 98.82671 W
Population (1990): 255 (150 housing units)
Area: 2.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 76435

Carbon, IN (town, FIPS 10198) Location: 39.59893 N, 87.10750 W
Population (1990): 350 (147 housing units)
Area: 0.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 47837

Carbon, IA (city, FIPS 10585) Location: 41.04926 N, 94.82351 W
Population (1990): 60 (36 housing units)
Area: 1.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

East Carbon, UT (city, FIPS 21110) Location: 39.53567 N, 110.40664 W
Population (1990): 1270 (743 housing units)
Area: 13.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 84520

Glen Carbon, IL (village, FIPS 29639) Location: 38.76048 N, 89.97301 W
Population (1990): 7731 (2975 housing units)
Area: 15.9 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 62034

Mount Carbon, WV Zip code(s): 25139

Port Carbon, PA (borough, FIPS 62128) Location: 40.69712 N, 76.16707 W
Population (1990): 2134 (903 housing units)
Area: 2.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 17965

Mount Carbon, PA (borough, FIPS 51488) Location: 40.67416 N, 76.18797 W
Population (1990): 132 (56 housing units)
Area: 0.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Carbon

Car"bon\ (k[aum]r"b[o^]n), n. [F. carbone, fr. L. carbo coal; cf. Skr. [,c]r[=a] to cook.] (Chem.) An elementary substance, not metallic in its nature, which is present in all organic compounds. Atomic weight 11.97. Symbol C. it is combustible, and forms the base of lampblack and charcoal, and enters largely into mineral coals. In its pure crystallized state it constitutes the diamond, the hardest of known substances, occuring in monometric crystals like the octahedron, etc. Another modification is graphite, or blacklead, and in this it is soft, and occurs in hexagonal prisms or tables. When united with oxygen it forms carbon dioxide, commonly called carbonic acid, or carbonic oxide, according to the proportions of the oxygen; when united with hydrogen, it forms various compounds called hydrocarbons. Compare Diamond, and Graphite.

Carbon compounds, Compounds of carbon (Chem.), those compounds consisting largely of carbon, commonly produced by animals and plants, and hence called organic compounds, though their synthesis may be effected in many cases in the laboratory.

The formation of the compounds of carbon is not dependent upon the life process. --I. Remsen

Carbon dioxide, Carbon monoxide. (Chem.) See under Carbonic.

Carbon light (Elec.), an extremely brilliant electric light produced by passing a galvanic current through two carbon points kept constantly with their apexes neary in contact.

Carbon point (Elec.), a small cylinder or bit of gas carbon moved forward by clockwork so that, as it is burned away by the electric current, it shall constantly maintain its proper relation to the opposing point.

Carbon tissue, paper coated with gelatine and pigment, used in the autotype process of photography. --Abney.

Gas carbon, a compact variety of carbon obtained as an incrustation on the interior of gas retorts, and used for the manufacture of the carbon rods of pencils for the voltaic, arc, and for the plates of voltaic batteries, etc.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Carbon

Car"bon\, n. (Elec.) A carbon rod or pencil used in an arc lamp; also, a plate or piece of carbon used as one of the elements of a voltaic battery.