carbonate

[kahr-buh-neyt, -nit, kahr-buh-neyt]

noun

1. a salt or ester of carbonic acid.

verb (used with object)

carbonated, carbonating 

1. to form into a carbonate.

2. to charge or impregnate with carbon dioxide.

   carbonated drinks.

3. to make sprightly; enliven.

carbonate

noun

1. a salt or ester of carbonic acid. Carbonate salts contain the divalent ion CO 3 ^2–

verb

1. to form or turn into a carbonate

2. (tr) to treat with carbon dioxide or carbonic acid, as in the manufacture of soft drinks

carbonate

1. A salt or ester of carbonic acid, containing the group CO ₃. The reaction of carbonic acid with a metal results in a salt (such as sodium carbonate), and the reaction of carbonic acid with an organic compound results in an ester (such as diethyl carbonate).

2. Any other compound containing the group CO ₃. Carbonates include minerals such as calcite and aragonite.

3. Sediment or a sedimentary rock formed by the precipitation of organic or inorganic carbon from an aqueous solution of carbonates of calcium, magnesium, or iron. Limestone is a carbonate rock.

1. To add carbon dioxide to a substance, such as a beverage.

Other Word Forms

• carbonator noun
• noncarbonate noun
• noncarbonated adjective
• semicarbonate adjective
• uncarbonated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of carbonate¹

1785–95; carbon(ic acid) + -ate ², later taken as -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of carbonate¹

C18: from French, from carbone _carbon

Example Sentences

Over decades, Los Angeles’ reliance on water from nearby creeks lowered the lake level and left exposed its craggy tufa towers, formations of calcium carbonate that grew underwater around springs.

From Los Angeles Times

Garrett stops to describe how the towers of calcium carbonate grew underwater around freshwater springs over thousands of years, then were left exposed as the water dropped.

From Los Angeles Times

Visitors who stroll beside the lapping water take photos of the craggy calcium carbonate formations as flocks of migratory birds soar overhead.

From Los Angeles Times

Some crustaceans, for example, have a hard time developing hard outer shells made of calcium carbonate if the water is too acidic.

From Salon

"So I think carbonating it and adding fruit flavour makes it more interesting. That's the real innovation."

From BBC