radiocarbon

[ rey-dee-oh-kahr-buhn ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. Also called carbon 14. a radioactive isotope of carbon with mass number 14 and a half-life of about 5730 years: widely used in the dating of organic materials.
2. any radioactive isotope of carbon.

radiocarbon

/ ˌreɪdɪəʊˈkɑːbən /

noun

1. a radioactive isotope of carbon, esp carbon-14 See carbon

radiocarbon

/ rā′dē-ō-kär′bən /

1. A radioactive isotope of carbon, especially carbon 14. Other radiocarbons include carbon 10, carbon 11, carbon 15, and carbon 16.

Word History and Origins

Origin of radiocarbon¹

First recorded in 1935–40; radio- + carbon

Example Sentences

According to radiocarbon dating, the cauldrons date back to the late Bronze Age, i.e. they were in use around 2,700 years ago.

From Science Daily

For this they combined annual growth ring measurements on wooden building elements with the sudden spike of cosmogenic radiocarbon in 5259 BC.

From Science Daily

One strategy that's recently become more feasible to implement is radiocarbon dating.

From Science Daily

Using radiocarbon dating, the researchers tested the recovered bones of wild and domesticated animals; the charred seeds of wild plants; crops like wheat and lentils; and weeds that tend to accompany these crops.

From Science Daily

For example, based on radiocarbon dating and changes in settlement and burial patterns, archaeologists know that about 50 years after arriving in Europe—around 626.

From Science Magazine