carbonaceous

American

[kahr-buh-ney-shuhs] / ˌkɑr bəˈneɪ ʃəs /

adjective

of, like, or containing carbon.

carbonaceous British

/ ˌkɑːbəˈneɪʃəs /

adjective

of, resembling, or containing carbon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

subcarbonaceous adjective

Etymology

Origin of carbonaceous

First recorded in 1785–95; carbon + -aceous

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bennu is known as a carbonaceous asteroid, meaning it is rich in carbon-based material, including organic compounds.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

Trigo-Rodríguez highlights that water rich carbonaceous asteroids may be especially attractive targets.

From Science Daily • Dec. 25, 2025

What’s more, studies of light reflected from Psyche suggest it isn’t purely metal but probably contains some carbonaceous material, a typical asteroid ingredient, and rocky silicate minerals.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 13, 2023

"Bennu is what we call a carbonaceous asteroid," explained Christopher Sneed, the deputy curator on the Osiris-Rex mission.

From BBC • Sep. 23, 2023

All the less that they would fatten you perceptibly," replied Monsieur Roger; "in fact, it is the carbonaceous foods which fatten.

From In Search of a Son by Walsh, William Shepard

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023