methanogen

[ me-than-uh-juh n, -jen ]

/ mɛˈθæn ə dʒən, -ˌdʒɛn /

noun

any of a diverse group of widely distributed archaebacteria that occur in anaerobic environments, as the intestinal tracts of animals, freshwater and marine sediments, and sewage, and are capable of producing methane from a limited number of substrates, including carbon dioxide and hydrogen, acetate, and methylamines: an important source of natural gas.

Nearby words

methanal, methanation, methane, methane series, methanesulfonic acid, methanogen, methanoic acid, methanol, methantheline, methaqualone, methb

Origin of methanogen

1975–80; methane- + -o- + -gen

Related formsmeth·an·o·gen·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Medicine definitions for methanogen

methanogen

[ mĕ-thăn′ə-jən, -jĕn′ ]

n.

Any of various anaerobic methane-producing bacteria belonging to the family Methanobacteriaceae.