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

The selloff came after the oil and natural gas company missed Wall Street’s fourth-quarter earnings target, taking a hit from soft crude prices.

From Barron's

The selloff came after the oil and natural gas company missed Wall Street’s fourth-quarter earnings target, taking a hit from soft crude prices.

From Barron's

U.S. natural gas futures settled lower as the market looked beyond the wind and snow hitting the Northeast to warmer-than-normal weather forecasts moving into March.

From The Wall Street Journal

U.S. natural gas futures snapped a three-session losing streak with a cold shot across the eastern U.S. expected to raise demand at the weekend and into early week.

From The Wall Street Journal

This week, Jinjoo Lee reports on the companies converting aircraft engines into land-based natural gas turbines to power the AI boom.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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