car|bo|hy|drate /kɑː r boʊha I dre I t/ (carbohydrates ) N‑VAR [usu pl] Carbohydrates are substances, found in certain kinds of food, that provide you with energy. Foods such as sugar and bread that contain these substances can also be referred to as carbohydrates . □ …carbohydrates such as bread, pasta or chips.
car|bol|ic acid /kɑː r bɒ l I k æ s I d/ N‑UNCOUNT Carbolic acid or carbolic is a liquid that is used as a disinfectant and antiseptic. □ Carbolic acid is usually used for cleaning. □ She smelled strongly of carbolic soap.
ca r bomb (car bombs ) N‑COUNT A car bomb is a bomb which is inside a car, van, or truck.
car|bon ◆◇◇ /kɑː r bən/ N‑UNCOUNT Carbon is a chemical element that diamonds and coal are made up of.
car|bon|ate /kɑː r bəne I t/ (carbonates ) N‑VAR [oft N n] Carbonate is used in the names of some substances that are formed from carbonic acid, which is a compound of carbon dioxide and water. □ …1,500 milligrams of calcium carbonate. □ [+ of ] …carbonate of ammonia solution.
car|bon|at|ed /kɑː r bəne I t I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Carbonated drinks are drinks that contain small bubbles of carbon dioxide. □ …colas and other carbonated soft drinks.
ca r|bon copy (carbon copies )
1 N‑COUNT If you say that one person or thing is a carbon copy of another, you mean that they look or behave exactly like them. □ [+ of ] She's a carbon copy of her mother.
2 N‑COUNT A carbon copy is a copy of a piece of writing that is made using carbon paper.
ca r|bon cre d|it (carbon credits ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Carbon credits are an allowance that certain companies have, permitting them to burn a certain amount of fossil fuels. □ The company helps to develop green projects which are awarded carbon credits.
ca r|bon da|ting N‑UNCOUNT Carbon dating is a system of calculating the age of a very old object by measuring the amount of radioactive carbon it contains.
ca r|bon di|o x|ide N‑UNCOUNT Carbon dioxide is a gas. It is produced by animals and people breathing out, and by chemical reactions.
ca r|bon fo ot|print N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Your carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by your activities over a particular period. □ We all need to look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
ca r|bon mon|o x|ide N‑UNCOUNT Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is produced especially by the engines of vehicles.
ca r|bon ne u|tral ADJ A carbon neutral lifestyle, company, or activity does not cause an increase in the overall amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. □ More organizations are becoming carbon neutral.
ca r|bon tax (carbon taxes ) N‑COUNT A carbon tax is a tax on the burning of fuels such as coal, gas, and oil. Its aim is to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
ca r|bon tra d|ing N‑UNCOUNT Carbon trading is the practice of buying and selling the right to produce carbon dioxide emissions, so that people, countries or companies who use a lot of fuel and electricity can buy rights from those that do not use so much.
ca r boo t sale (car boot sales ) N‑COUNT A car boot sale is a sale where people sell things they own and do not want from a little stall or from the back of their car. [BRIT ] in AM, use garage sale
car|bun|cle /kɑː r bʌŋk ə l/ (carbuncles ) N‑COUNT A carbuncle is a large swelling under the skin.
car|bu|ret|tor /kɑː r bəre tə r , [AM ] -re I tə r / (carburettors ) in AM, use carburetor N‑COUNT A carburettor is the part of an engine, usually in a car, in which air and petrol are mixed together to form a vapour which can be burned.
car|cass /kɑː r kəs/ (carcasses ) in BRIT, also use carcase N‑COUNT A carcass is the body of a dead animal. □ [+ of ] A cluster of vultures crouched on the carcass of a dead buffalo.
car|cino|gen /kɑː r s I nədʒ ə n, kɑː r s I nədʒen/ (carcinogens ) N‑COUNT A carcinogen is a substance which can cause cancer. [MEDICAL ]
car|cino|gen|ic /kɑː r s I nədʒe n I k/ ADJ A substance that is carcinogenic is likely to cause cancer. [MEDICAL ]
car|ci|no|ma /kɑː r s I noʊ mə/ (carcinomas )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Carcinoma is a type of cancer. [MEDICAL ]
2 N‑COUNT Carcinomas are malignant tumours. [MEDICAL ]
card ◆◆◇ /kɑː r d/ (cards )
1 N‑COUNT A card is a piece of stiff paper or thin cardboard on which something is written or printed. □ Check the numbers below against the numbers on your card.
2 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A card is a piece of cardboard or plastic, or a small document, which shows information about you and which you carry with you, for example to prove your identity. □ They check my bag and press card. □ …her membership card. □ The authorities have begun to issue ration cards.
3 N‑COUNT A card is a rectangular piece of plastic, issued by a bank, company, or shop, which you can use to buy things or obtain money. □ He paid the whole bill with an American Express card. □ Holiday-makers should beware of using plastic cards in foreign cash dispensers.
4 N‑COUNT A card is a folded piece of stiff paper with a picture and sometimes a message printed on it, which you send to someone on a special occasion. □ She sends me a card on my birthday. □ …millions of get-well cards.
5 N‑COUNT A card is the same as a postcard . □ Send your details on a card to the following address.