carbo

¹

[ kahr-boh ]

noun

, Informal.

, plural car·bos.

1. carbohydrate.
2. a food having a high carbohydrate content.

carbo-

²

1. a combining form used in the names of chemical compounds in which carbon is present:

   carbohydrate.

carbo-

combining_form

1. carbon

   carbohydrate

   carbonate

Word History and Origins

Origin of carbo¹

By shortening; -o

Example Sentences

Being elected a tribune, Carbo set himself to win the favor of the people by new popular legislation.

From Project Gutenberg

No greater contrast can be imagined than is to be found in a comparison between Tiberius Gracchus and Carbo.

From Project Gutenberg

After the death of Cinna, Carbo for some time remained as the sole consul of Rome.

From Project Gutenberg

From the north, Marius, Sertorius, and Carbo were advancing with considerable forces.

From Project Gutenberg

To avoid a similar lot, Carbo, who came to take the command, hastened to promise the rebels that they should not quit Italy.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use carbo-

What does carbo- mean?

The combining form carbo- is used like a prefix meaning “carbon.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in chemistry.

The form carbo- ultimately comes from Latin carbō, meaning “charcoal.” Yes, charcoal. The dishes carbonara and carbonade are also related to the Latin carbō.

The Greek translation of Latin carbō is ánthrax, “charcoal” or “carbuncle,” which is the source of the word anthrax. Find out more at our entry for the word.

What are variants of carbo-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, carbo- becomes carb-, as in carbene. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for carb-.

Examples of carbo-

An example of a word you may have encountered that features carbo- is carbohydrate, “any of a class of organic compounds made of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen that form the supporting tissues of plants and are important food for animals and people.”

We know carbo- means “carbon,” while the -hydrate portion of the word refers to “combined with or contains water,” from Greek hýdōr, meaning “water.” Carbohydrate literally translates to “carbon combined with water.”

What are some words that use the combining form carbo-?

• carbobenzoxy
• carbocholine
• carbocyclic
• carbohydrase
• carbohydaturia

What are some other forms that carbo- may be commonly confused with?

• carboxy-
• carcino-
• cardi-

Break it down!

The word cyclic in chemistry means “of or relating to a compound that contains a closed ring of atoms.” With this in mind, what does the chemistry term carbocyclic mean?