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

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Etymology

Origin of hydrocarbon

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hydrocarbon

French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies said Thursday that its net profit hit a new record in the third quarter as the war in the Middle East pushed up hydrocarbon prices.

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026

These sites can attack the long molecular chains that make up polyethylene and split them into smaller hydrocarbon molecules.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026

Their study, published in the journal Nature Communications, centers on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, or AHR.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

At the time, Woods said Venezuela appeared to be “uninvestable” without significant changes to the country’s commercial frameworks, legal system and hydrocarbon laws.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Efforts were made to control it but they were largely fruitless until, in the late 1940’s, the chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides offered new weapons.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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