verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈkɑːbən.aɪz/
General-American:/ˈkɑɹ.bən.aɪz/
UK:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K AA1 R B AH0 N AY2 Z
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To turn something to carbon, especially by heating it; to scorch or blacken.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Near-synonyms: charcoalize, char
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: carburize, charcoalize, char
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To react something with carbon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
turn into carbon, as by burning
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
carbonize coal
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: carbonise
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change state, turn
4
verb
Meaning 4
unite with carbon
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
carburize metal
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: carbonise, carburize, carburise
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change state, turn
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kerh3-der.? Latin carbōnemlbor. French carbonebor. English carbon Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English carbonize From carbon + -ize.
Across languages
Translations
26 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
կարբոնացնել
(karbonacʻnel)
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Bulgarian:
овъглявам
(ovǎgljavam)
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Catalan:
carbonitzar
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Chinese Mandarin:
碳化
(tànhuà)
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Chinese Mandarin:
炭化
(tànhuà)
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Esperanto:
karbonigi
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Finnish:
hiiltää
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Finnish:
karbonoida
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
French:
carboniser
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
German:
verkohlen
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Greek:
καρβουνίζω
(karvounízo)
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Greek:
καρβουνιάζω
(karvouniázo)
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Greek:
απανθρακώνω
(apanthrakóno)
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Hungarian:
elszenesít
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Ido:
karbonigar
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Ido:
karbonizar
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Italian:
carbonizzare
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Latin:
carbōnēscō
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Latin:
carbōnizō
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Occitan:
carbonizar
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Polish:
zwęglać
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Polish:
zwęglić
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Portuguese:
carbonizar
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Spanish:
carbonizar
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Swedish:
karbonisera
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
Tagalog:
supukin
— turn something to carbon, especially by heating
