carbonaceous

adjective

car·​bo·​na·​ceous ˌkär-bə-ˈnā-shəs How to pronounce carbonaceous (audio)
1
: relating to, containing, or composed of carbon
2
: rich in carbon

Examples of carbonaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Among the clues supporting an asteroid origin are mineral and chemical signatures identified in material collected from the region that researchers have argued are consistent with a stony or carbonaceous asteroid. — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026 This led the Doshisha University team to introduce a novel, chemical-reductant-free, single-step pyrolytic method that utilizes agricultural bullrush waste as both a carbonaceous matrix and a gas-phase reduction template. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026 Researchers led by Daniel Crocker and David Johnston from Harvard University examined carbonaceous chondrite meteorites using precise measurements of three distinct oxygen isotopes. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026 Using average chemistry and densities for a couple different types of asteroids—common CM-group carbonaceous chondrites and rarer iron-rich M-type asteroids—some of the elements lost could be found in modestly sized bodies. — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for carbonaceous

Word History

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carbonaceous was in 1727

Rhymes for carbonaceous

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Browse Nearby Words

carbona
carbonaceous
carbonado
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Cite this Entry

“Carbonaceous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carbonaceous. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

carbonaceous

adjective
car·​bo·​na·​ceous ˌkär-bə-ˈnā-shəs How to pronounce carbonaceous (audio)
: relating to, containing, or made up of carbon
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