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hydrocarbons

Cultural  
  1. Chemical compounds whose main feature is a long chain of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms. Hydrocarbons are organic molecules (see also organic molecule).


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Many hydrocarbons are used as fuels. Some examples of hydrocarbon fuels are the components of gasoline; methane, which is the main ingredient of natural gas; and some components of wood.

Example Sentences

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"The alternatives for getting cargo, whether that's hydrocarbons or container shipping, are really not great… it is really still troubling times with no clarity and no change of fortunes within sight."

From BBC Aug. 3, 2026

“Crude oil” is a collective term for any big batch of hydrocarbons pulled from the ground as a liquid.

From MarketWatch Jul. 21, 2026

Not the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, not the Gulf’s oil-producing Arab monarchies, and not our Indo-Pacific allies, heavily reliant on Middle Eastern hydrocarbons.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 7, 2026

“Fifty years from now, people are going to be amazed that we burned these rare, useful hydrocarbons for fuel, when the sun was just sitting up there providing an essentially infinite source of energy.”

From Los Angeles Times May 14, 2026

Both major types of insecticides, the chlorinated hydrocarbons and the organic phosphates, directly affect the nervous system, although in somewhat different ways.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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