c

1 of 5

noun

ˈsē How to pronounce c (audio)
plural c's or cs ˈsēz How to pronounce c (audio)
often capitalized, often attributive
1
a
: the 3rd letter of the English alphabet
b
: a graphic representation of this letter
c
: a speech counterpart of orthographic c
2
a
: one hundred see Table of Numbers
b
slang : a sum of $100
3
: the keynote of a C-major scale
4
: a graphic device for reproducing the letter c
5
: one designated c especially as the third in order or class
6
a
: a grade rating a student's work as fair or mediocre in quality
b
: one graded or rated with a C
7
: something shaped like the letter C
8
: a structured language for creating computer programs that is designed to be compact and efficient

c

2 of 5

abbreviation (1)

1
calm
2
calorie
3
canceled
4
candle
5
canine (see canine entry 1 sense 1)
6
carat
7
catcher
8
cent
9
centavo
10
centi-
11
centime
12
centimeter
13
century
14
chapter
15
charm (see charm entry 1 sense 5)
16
circa
17
circumference
18
clonus
19
closure
20
cocaine
21
coefficient
22
college
23
[Latin congius] gallon
24
contralto
25
copyright
26
cubic
27
or c̄ [Latin cum] with
—used in writing prescriptions
28
cup
29
curie

c

3 of 5

symbol (1)

usually italic
speed of light

C

4 of 5

abbreviation (2)

1
capacitance
2
Celsius
3
centigrade
4
cervical
—used especially with a number from 1 to 7 to indicate a vertebra or segment of the spinal cord
5
Coulomb
6
cytosine

C

5 of 5

symbol (2)

carbon

Example Sentences

Noun The word “access” is spelled with two cs. Many English words begin with c. a song in the key of C

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of c was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing c

Dictionary Entries Near c

Będzin

c

C

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“C.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/c. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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Kids Definition

c

noun
ˈsē
often capitalized
1
: the third letter of the English alphabet
2
: one hundred in Roman numerals
3
: a musical note referred to by the letter C : the tone on which a C-major scale is based
4
: a grade rating a student's work as fair or mediocre

Medical Definition

c

1 of 3 abbreviation
1
calorie
2
canine
3
cathode
4
centimeter
5
clonus
6
closure
7
cobalt
8
coefficient
9
contact
10
contraction
11
coulomb
12
curie
13
cylinder
14
or c̄ [Latin cum] with
—used in writing prescriptions

C

2 of 3 abbreviation
1
Celsius
2
centigrade
3
cervical
—used especially with a number from 1 to 7 to indicate a vertebra or segment of the spinal cord
4
cocaine
5
complement
6
congius
7
cytosine

C

3 of 3 symbol
carbon

Legal Definition

c

abbreviation
copyright

More from Merriam-Webster on c

Nglish: Translation of c for Spanish Speakers

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