carbon monoxide

noun

1. a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas, CO, that burns with a pale-blue flame, produced when carbon burns with insufficient air: used chiefly in organic synthesis, metallurgy, and in the preparation of metal carbonyls, as nickel carbonyl.

carbon monoxide

noun

1. a colourless odourless poisonous flammable gas formed when carbon compounds burn in insufficient air and produced by the action of steam on hot carbon: used as a reducing agent in metallurgy and as a fuel. Formula: CO

Word History and Origins

Origin of carbon monoxide¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

The team improved a reaction called dry reforming of methane that converts methane and carbon dioxide into syngas, a valued mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide used by oil and chemical companies worldwide.

From Science Daily

Although many attempts have been made to convert captured CO2 into useful products, until now most researchers have only shown the ability to produce carbon monoxide.

From Science Daily

Dorset Police, who previously said carbon monoxide poisoning was a possible cause, said the deaths were still being treated as "unexplained".

From BBC

Cigarettes release thousands of different chemicals when they burn, including carbon monoxide, lead and ammonia.

From BBC

In the case of large, multiple-battery fires, they can burn for days, all the while releasing toxic gases such as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

From Los Angeles Times