hydrocarbon

American  

[hahy-druh-kahr-buhn, hahy-druh-kahr-] / ˌhaɪ drəˈkɑr bən, ˈhaɪ drəˌkɑr- /

noun

1. any of a class of compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon, as an alkane, methane, CH 4 , an alkene, ethylene, C 2 H 4 , an alkyne, acetylene, C 2 H 2 , or an aromatic compound, benzene, C 6 H 6 .

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hydrocarbon British  

/ ˌhaɪdrəʊˈkɑːbən /

noun

1. any organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen, such as the alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, terpenes, and arenes

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hydrocarbon Scientific  

/ hī′drə-kär′bən /

1. Any of numerous organic compounds, such as benzene, that contain only carbon and hydrogen.

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Other Word Forms

• hydrocarbonaceous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hydrocarbon

First recorded in 1820–30; hydro- ² + carbon

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hydrocarbon

Instead, hydrogen is usually found bonded to other elements, most often in water and hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas, coal, and oil.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 2, 2026

Tierra del Fuego is Argentina's youngest and least populated province, with industries like hydrocarbon exploration and fishing closely followed by tourism as local sources of income.

From BBC ● May 10, 2026

The government’s move to overhaul its hydrocarbon laws in favor of private investors has given U.S. executives more confidence, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

The result is a global landscape in which hydrocarbon markets are both under pressure and generating windfall profits, even among Santa Marta participants.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2026

Ultraviolet light from the sun converts methane to more complex hydrocarbon molecules and hydrogen gas.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan