Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To reduce or convert a carbon-containing substance to carbon, as by partial burning.
  • transitive verb To coat or combine with carbon.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To convert into carbon by combustion or the action of fire, or by other natural processes.
  • To cover with carbon (in the form of charcoal or lampblack).
  • To carburize.
  • Also spelled carbonise.
  • To destroy (the vegetable matter mixed with wool or other animal fibers) by chemical means (as a dilute solution of sulphuric or hydrochloric acid) and high temperature (210° F.).

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To convert (an animal or vegetable substance) into a residue of carbon by the action of fire or some corrosive agent; to char.
  • transitive verb To impregnate or combine with carbon, as in making steel by cementation.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To turn something to carbon, especially by heating it; to scorch or blacken.
  • verb chemistry To react something with carbon.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb turn into carbon, as by burning
  • verb unite with carbon

Etymologies

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