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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 .


hydrocarbon British  
/ ˌhaɪdrəʊˈkɑːbən /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hydrocarbon Scientific  
/ hī′drə-kärbən /
  1. Any of numerous organic compounds, such as benzene, that contain only carbon and hydrogen.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of hydrocarbon

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

Vocabulary lists containing hydrocarbon

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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

These reactions include splitting dihydrogen and enabling the step-by-step insertion and chain growth of ethene, a simple 2-carbon hydrocarbon.

From Science Daily 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

Venezuela’s interim government, led by Delcy Rodriguez, passed a new hydrocarbon law, attracting cautious interest from companies.

From Barron's Mar. 25, 2026

The actions of the moribund foxes were those of animals poisoned by chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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