natural gas

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.

natural gas

noun

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

natural gas

/ 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of natural gas¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

The company is in the process of re-powering an existing coal plant to run on a combination of natural gas and hydrogen by 2025.

From TechCrunch

He said Virginians’ overall bills run higher because they use more electricity than other states, like those in New England that rely on natural gas or oil for heat.

From ProPublica

The cost of increasing capacity was $41 for coal and $28 for natural gas.

From Popular-Science

That’s the argument increasingly put forth by climate scientists and activists looking to put an end to the continued extraction of coal, oil, and natural gas.

From Popular-Science

The city is already halfway there with the creation of San Diego Community Power, which is taking over SDG&E’s old job of selecting and purchasing the kind of power San Diego runs on, like solar or natural gas.

From Voice of San Diego

Total oil production figures include crude oil, natural gas liquids, and other liquid energy products.

From The Daily Beast

On top of oil, the United States produces significantly more natural gas than Saudi Arabia.

From The Daily Beast

But if Clinton waded into the natural gas debate, she entirely avoided the Keystone one.

From The Daily Beast

She is groundbreaking on the problem of methane leaks in natural-gas fracking, an exception that swallows the rule.

From The Daily Beast

It would transport bitumen and liquefied natural gas drawn from the tar sands to refineries on the Gulf Coast, mainly in Texas.

From The Daily Beast

In the value of its petroleum, natural gas, clay products, and pig iron it has no close second.

From Project Gutenberg

For natural gas the compression pressure may easily be raised to from 85 to 100 pounds per square inch.

From Project Gutenberg

Findlay is the centre of the Ohio natural gas and oil region, and lime and building stone 355 abound in the vicinity.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1890 I became interested in the natural gas field at Greentown, Ind.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1896, natural gas was first used in the United States as a fuel for roasting coffee.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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