methane

[ meth-eyn; British mee-theyn ]
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nounChemistry.
  1. a colorless, odorless, flammable gas, CH4, 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.

Origin of methane

1
First recorded in 1865–70; meth- + -ane

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British Dictionary definitions for methane

methane

/ (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

Origin of methane

1
C19: from meth (yl) + -ane

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

Scientific definitions for methane

methane

[ mĕthān′ ]


  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: CH4.

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