carbonic

from The Century Dictionary.

• Pertaining to carbon, or obtained from it.
• An engine which is moved by the expansive force of condensed carbonic acid.
• a substance (CO) obtained by allowing carbonic acid to pass over red-hot fragments of charcoal, contained in a tube of iron and porcelain, and also by several other processes. It is a colorless, inodorous gas, a little lighter than air, has neither acid nor alkaline properties, is very poisonous, and burns with a pale-lavender flame. This substance is produced when a coal-fire burns with a smokeless flame, and the pale-lavender flame produced by its combustion may often be observed playing over such a fire.

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

• adjective (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, carbon.
• adjective (Chem.) an acid HO.CO.OH, not existing separately, which, combined with positive or basic atoms or radicals, forms carbonates. In common language the term is very generally applied to a compound of carbon and oxygen, CO2, more correctly called carbon dioxide. It is a colorless, heavy, irrespirable gas, extinguishing flame, and when breathed destroys life. It can be reduced to a liquid and solid form by intense pressure. It is produced in the fermentation of liquors, and by the combustion and decomposition of organic substances, or other substances containing carbon. It is formed in the explosion of fire damp in mines, and is hence called after damp; it is also know as choke damp, and mephitic air. Water will absorb its own volume of it, and more than this under pressure, and in this state becomes the common soda water of the shops, and the carbonated water of natural springs. Combined with lime it constitutes limestone, or common marble and chalk. Plants imbibe it for their nutrition and growth, the carbon being retained and the oxygen given out.
• adjective (Chem.) a colorless gas, CO, of a light odor, called more correctly carbon monoxide. It is almost the only definitely known compound in which carbon seems to be divalent. It is a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon, and is an abundant constituent of water gas. It is fatal to animal life, extinguishes combustion, and burns with a pale blue flame, forming carbon dioxide.

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

• adjective Of or relating to carbon.

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

• adjective relating to or consisting of or yielding carbon