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

The project is expected to reduce emissions from Dow’s Seadrift site by roughly 440,000 ton s of carbon dioxide annually. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 May 2026

Methane combustion produces mainly carbon dioxide and water vapor rather than thick soot and toxic chemicals. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026

Things got dicey toward the end of his 34-hour flight, as equipment malfunctions caused rising cabin temperatures and carbon dioxide levels before Cooper safely completed a manual landing in the Pacific Ocean. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026

Organic waste releases carbon dioxide and accounts for as much as 17% of total methane emissions, according to the EPA. —Elizabeth MacBride, CNBC, 19 May 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