Pertaining to carbon, or obtained from it.An engine which is moved by the expansive force of condensed carbonic acid.a substance (CO) obtained by allowing carbonic acid to pass over red-hot fragments of charcoal, contained in a tube of iron and porcelain, and also by several other processes. It is a colorless, inodorous gas, a little lighter than air, has neither acid nor alkaline properties, is very poisonous, and burns with a pale-lavender flame. This substance is produced when a coal-fire burns with a smokeless flame, and the pale-lavender flame produced by its combustion may often be observed playing over such a fire.