methane

American  

[meth-eyn, mee-theyn] / ˈmɛθ eɪn, ˈmi θeɪn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, odorless, flammable gas, CH 4 , the main constituent of marsh gas and the firedamp of coal mines, obtained commercially from natural gas: the first member of the methane, or alkane, series of hydrocarbons.

---

methane British  

/ ˈmiːθeɪn /

noun

1. a colourless odourless flammable gas, the simplest alkane and the main constituent of natural gas: used as a fuel. Formula: CH 4 See also marsh gas firedamp

---

methane Scientific  

/ mĕth′ān′ /

1. A colorless, odorless, flammable gas that is the simplest hydrocarbon. It is the major constituent of natural gas and is released during the decomposition of plant or other organic compounds, as in marshes and coal mines. Methane is the first member of the alkane series. Chemical formula: CH ₄ .

---

Etymology

Origin of methane

First recorded in 1865–70; meth- + -ane

Example Sentences

Energy producers separate it out from methane, nitrogen and other gases, then ship it as a supercooled liquid.

From The Wall Street Journal

The primary component of natural gas is methane, which, when burned, releases CO2 -- the leading greenhouse gas responsible for global warming.

From Barron's

However the increase in concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases -- carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide -- "to their highest level in at least 800,000 years" has "upset this equilibrium", the WMO said.

From Barron's

Ultrasour gas is used to produce petrochemical feedstock and methane for heating and cooking.

From The Wall Street Journal

If farmers can figure out, for example, that a certain breed of cattle releases more methane when it consumes a particular kind of feed, they could change the feed to cut down on the methane.

From The Wall Street Journal