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

Derived Forms

• hydrocarbonaceous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hydrocarbon

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

Example Sentences

Growing demand and rising prices could lead to producers going after hydrocarbon resources that are currently uneconomic to explore, Sawan said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 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

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

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