methane

American  

[meth-eyn, mee-theyn] / ˈmɛθ eɪn, ˈmi θeɪn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, odorless, flammable gas, CH 4 , the main constituent of marsh gas and the firedamp of coal mines, obtained commercially from natural gas: the first member of the methane, or alkane, series of hydrocarbons.

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methane British  

/ ˈmiːθeɪn /

noun

1. a colourless odourless flammable gas, the simplest alkane and the main constituent of natural gas: used as a fuel. Formula: CH 4 See also marsh gas firedamp

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methane Scientific  

/ mĕth′ān′ /

1. A colorless, odorless, flammable gas that is the simplest hydrocarbon. It is the major constituent of natural gas and is released during the decomposition of plant or other organic compounds, as in marshes and coal mines. Methane is the first member of the alkane series. Chemical formula: CH ₄ .

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Etymology

Origin of methane

First recorded in 1865–70; meth- + -ane

Example Sentences

One of the biggest drivers was a sharp drop in hydroxyl radicals, which are the main chemicals responsible for breaking methane down in the air.

From Science Daily

And it would place a broader suite of climate regulations in legal jeopardy, including limits on carbon dioxide from power plants and methane from oil and gas operations.

From Barron's

From orbit, scientists can identify chemicals in the upper atmosphere, including ammonia, methane, ammonium hydrosulfide, water, and carbon monoxide.

From Science Daily

They also suggest that similar designs could eventually be adapted to capture and convert other greenhouse gases, including methane.

From Science Daily

Flaring operations often coincide with large releases of methane, a gas with 80 times the global-warming potential of carbon dioxide.

From The Wall Street Journal