natural gas

American  

noun

1. a combustible mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons that accumulates in porous sedimentary rocks, especially those yielding petroleum, consisting usually of over 80 percent methane together with minor amounts of ethane, propane, butane, nitrogen, and, sometimes, helium: used as a fuel and to make carbon black, acetylene, and synthesis gas.

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natural gas British  

noun

1. a gaseous mixture consisting mainly of methane trapped below ground; used extensively as a fuel

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natural gas Scientific  

/ năch′ər-əl /

1. A mixture of hydrocarbon gases that occurs naturally beneath the Earth's surface, often with or near petroleum deposits. Natural gas contains mostly of methane but also has varying amounts of ethane, propane, butane, and nitrogen. It is used as a fuel and in making organic compounds.

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Etymology

Origin of natural gas

First recorded in 1815–25

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

natural gas

U.S. natural gas futures rose with the Nymex November contract gaining 4.4% on the day.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Shell, whose revenue rose sharply to $92.8 billion, said high natural gas prices also boosted its third quarter.

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026

Large producers typically seek to capture and sell incidental natural gas that burbles up, and they have a strong financial incentive to do so.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Some Tanzanians have been converting their vehicles to a dual-fuel system - with the locally available natural gas allowing for cheaper prices than petrol.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

It said that Governor Thomas Corbett had proposed that the state’s institutions of higher learning should consider closing their budget shortfalls by drilling for natural gas on their campuses.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

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Related Words

• crude oil
• fossil fuel
• fuel
• gas
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