Carbonated

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈkɑː(ɹ)bɒneɪtəd/

Definitions

1. Relating to a drink that follows the process of carbonation to produce bubbles
2. Pertaining to any liquid that exhibits fizziness as a result of the presence of dissolved carbon dioxide
3. Containing carbon dioxide gas dissolved to create bubbles and a sparkling effect in a beverage

Etymology: Carbonated is the past participle of "carbonate," a verb built from "carbon" and the suffix "-ate," which chemists used for salts of acids whose names end in "-ic." The suffix is the more interesting part of the story: it tells you that carbonated drinks are, chemically, saturated with a salt-forming acid, not simply flavoured water with air trapped in it. The chain of borrowing runs through French. "Carbone" was taken from Latin "carbo," meaning charcoal or live coal, and French formed "carbonate" from it, with the "-ate" ending coming from Latin "-atus" by way of French. English then took "carbonate" and converted it into a verb, so "carbonate" came to mean charging a liquid with carbon dioxide gas. The adjective "carbonated" therefore describes a drink into which that gas has been forced, which is why the word means fizzy bubbles rather than anything to do with charcoal.

Synonyms: fizzy, bubbly, effervescent

Antonyms: flat, still