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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

natural gas

U.S. natural gas futures relinquished intraday gains and settled fractionally lower despite a 32 Bcf weekly inventory build that landed at the low end of market estimates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Hotter conditions raise electricity demand, while drought can reduce hydroelectric generation and increase reliance on natural gas and other fuels.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

Greenhouse gases mainly come from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

Burning natural gas also causes significant air pollution in the form of nitric oxides, sulfur, mercury and particulates, while hydraulic fracturing or "fracking," can contaminate ground water supplies.

From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026

His father, who worked at a natural gas plant for Gulf as a shift supervisor, had not gone to the game that day.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Related Words

• crude oil
• fossil fuel
• fuel
• gas
• gasoline
• kerosene
• petrol