carbon
gb/kˈɑɹbən/ us/kˈɑɹbən/
B1
English
~ 3800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Chemical element, symbol C
A basic chemical element, found in all living things and in materials like coal, diamond, and graphite.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'carbon' with 'carbon dioxide', which is a specific compound containing carbon and oxygen.
Synonyms
element (A general term for a pure chemical substance; less specific than carbon.)
Collocations
carbon atom
|carbon cycle
|carbon dioxide
|carbon content
|carbon compound
Themes
science
|chemistry
|environment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass.
- Diamond is a form of pure carbon.
- Carbon plays a key role in the chemistry of life.
Learner examples
- Carbon is in all plants and animals.
- Diamond is made of carbon.
- Carbon is important for life.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
2
Carbon emissions or footprint
The amount of carbon gases, like carbon dioxide, that people or machines send into the air.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'carbon' here with solid forms like coal; in this sense it refers to gases or measurements of emissions.
Synonyms
emissions (Broader term for any gases released into the atmosphere; not limited to carbon-based gases.)
Antonyms
carbon neutrality (The state of having net-zero carbon emissions.)
Collocations
carbon footprint
|carbon emissions
|carbon neutrality
|carbon tax
Themes
environment
|climate change
|energy
|science
|nature
Examples
- The government plans to reduce national carbon emissions by 40% by 2030.
- Flying frequently increases your personal carbon footprint.
- Carbon neutrality is a key goal in fighting climate change.
Learner examples
- Cars make a lot of carbon when they burn fuel.
- We should try to have a small carbon footprint.
- Factories give out carbon into the air.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Paper for making copies
Special paper used to make a copy when you write or type on another sheet above it.
Common mistake:
Learners might think this sense refers to the chemical element; here it means a special type of paper.
Synonyms
carbon paper (More specific term referring exactly to the coated sheet used for copying.)
Collocations
carbon copy
|carbon paper
Themes
office
|printing
|work
|communication
Examples
- She filled out the form with a carbon underneath so she had a copy.
- Carbon paper was widely used before photocopiers became common.
- The receipt came with a carbon copy for our records.
Learner examples
- I used carbon paper to make two copies.
- The letter has a carbon copy.
- Before printers, people used carbon to copy letters.
Grammar
Dictionary form
carbon
IPA
GB/kˈɑɹbən/
US/kˈɑɹbən/
Syllables & stress
car - bon (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (car)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: carbon
- Plural: carbon, carbons
Word family
Forms
carbons
noun
Core family
carbonated
adjective
Related words
carbonate
verb
carbonation
noun
Negative and opposite forms
decarbonize
verb
decarbonization
noun C1
Advanced or less common
Expressions
carbon copy
4/kˈɑɹbən kˈɑpi/
fixed phrase
Exact duplicate of something
An exact copy of something.
Examples
- He's a carbon copy of his father in looks and mannerisms.
- The report you received is a carbon copy of the one sent to headquarters.
- The second document is just a carbon copy of the first.
- He is almost a carbon copy of his father in looks and mannerisms.
carbon footprint
1/kˈɑɹbən fˈʊtpɹˌɪnt/
fixed phrase
Total greenhouse gas emissions
The amount of carbon gases you or something puts into the air.
Examples
- Taking the train instead of flying can greatly reduce your carbon footprint.
- Driving less is an easy way to lower your carbon footprint.
- The company is working to shrink its carbon footprint through renewable energy.
- The calculator shows the carbon footprint of your weekly shopping.
- Our goal is to cut our carbon footprint in half by 2030.
carbon neutral
2/kˈɑɹbən nˈutɹəl/
fixed phrase
causing no net CO₂ increase
Not adding more carbon dioxide to the air overall, because emissions are reduced or balanced by actions that remove CO₂.
Examples
- The company aims to be carbon neutral by 2030.
- Flying will be more expensive if airlines are forced to go carbon neutral.
- Some cities are investing in trees to help them become carbon neutral.
carbon neutral
3/kˈɑɹbən nˈutɹəl/
fixed phrase
technical
Net zero greenhouse gas emissions
Not adding more carbon gases to the air than you remove.
Examples
- The festival aims to be completely carbon neutral by planting trees and using solar power.
- Many countries are pledging to become carbon neutral by 2050.