carbide

noun

car·​bide ˈkär-ˌbīd How to pronounce carbide (audio)
1
: a binary compound of carbon with a more electropositive element
especially : calcium carbide
2
: a very hard material made of carbon and one or more heavy metals

Examples of carbide 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.
Equally responsible for this Bentley’s milestone handling are the Supersports’ electronic limited-slip differential, rear-wheel steering, suspension aided by a 48-volt active anti-roll bar, and enormous carbon-silicon-carbide brakes. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2026 Boron carbide, as hard as anything this side of diamond, embedded in body armor. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026 Silicon carbide is already a cornerstone of the commercial computer chip industry. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026 Like many other high-end EVs, the drive units use silicon-carbide inverters that can respond in less than a millisecond. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for carbide

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carbide was circa 1865

Phrases Containing carbide

Rhymes for carbide

See All Rhymes for carbide

Browse Nearby Words

carbethoxylation
carbide
carbide lamp
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Carbide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carbide. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

carbide

noun
car·​bide ˈkär-ˌbīd How to pronounce carbide (audio)
: a compound of carbon with another element

Medical Definition

carbide

noun
car·​bide ˈkär-ˌbīd How to pronounce carbide (audio)
: a binary compound of carbon with a more electropositive element

More from Merriam-Webster on carbide

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carbide

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