carbide
/ˈkɑrbaɪd/
noun
- A hard compound of carbon with a metal, often used in cutting tools and industrial equipment.
- Miners used carbide lamps to light their way underground.
- Carbide tools are essential in machining hard metals like steel.
- The drill bit is tipped with tungsten carbide for extra durability.
- A compound of carbon with another element, especially calcium carbide, which produces acetylene gas when mixed with water.
- Calcium carbide is used to generate acetylene for welding torches.
- The old bicycle lamp ran on a small piece of carbide and water.
- Farmers sometimes use carbide to speed up the ripening of fruit.