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

Their carbon dioxide removal plant in Port Angeles, Washington, called Project Macoma, will use an electrochemical process to split seawater into acidic and basic portions. —IEEE Spectrum, 23 Dec. 2024

That's in spite of an ongoing global increase in the burning of fossil fuels for energy, with the Global Carbon Budget last month finding that carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and cement will rise to a record 37 billion metric tons in 2024. —David Vetter, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Zoom out: Buildings are responsible for 40% of carbon dioxide emissions, while air conditioning is responsible for close to 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. —Katie Fehrenbacher, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024

And the Leather and Hide Council of America estimates that one metric ton of hides in a landfill generates more than 13 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. —Jennifer Bringle, WWD, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

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