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

Based on their bid request, Prairie State’s management appears to be banking on federal tax credits worth up to $85 per ton of carbon dioxide sequestered. —Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2024

Find nearby coal plants and emissions data Enter an address to locate the nearest operating coal plants and view their carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) output for 2023. —Cecilia Garzella, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024

In an open letter to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the 1,600 scientists noted low levels of air pollution, no danger of drought, and contended that carbon dioxide (CO2) is beneficial to the earth and other evidence. —K. Lloyd Billingsley, Orange County Register, 20 May 2024

Earth's atmosphere also has carbon dioxide, but our oceans help moderate its heat-trapping effects by sucking up excess carbon and eventually turning it into rock. —Regina G. Barber, NPR, 8 May 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