carbon
noun
uk/ˈkɑːbən/ us [ U ] NATURAL RESOURCES
a chemical element (= simple chemical substance), which exists in all plants and animals, and is an important part of coal and oil. When carbon is burned it produces carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide:
All organic substances contain the element carbon.
Carbon exists in its pure form as diamond or graphite.
carbon atoms
[ U ] ENVIRONMENT
used as a short form for carbon dioxide, especially when talking about the environment and climate change:
Car makers are already working hard on reducing carbon.
The plan would remove two billion tons of carbon a year from the atmosphere.
[ C ] WORKPLACE
a carbon copy