propane

American  

[proh-peyn] / ˈproʊ peɪn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, flammable gas, C 3 H 8 , of the alkane series, occurring in petroleum and natural gas: used chiefly as a fuel and in organic synthesis.

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propane British  

/ ˈprəʊpeɪn /

noun

1. a colourless flammable gaseous alkane found in petroleum and used as a fuel. Formula: CH 3 CH 2 CH 3

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propane Scientific  

/ prō′pān′ /

1. A colorless, gaseous hydrocarbon found in petroleum and natural gas. It is widely used as a fuel. Propane is the third member of the alkane series. Chemical formula: C ₃ H ₈ .

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Etymology

Origin of propane

First recorded in 1866; prop(ionic) + -ane

Explanation

Propane is a flammable fuel you can use to heat your house, barbecue, or portable camping stove. Propane is refined from natural gas and petroleum. Propane is a gaseous hydrocarbon that is stored as a liquid under pressure in tanks. Propane is as useful as it is volatile. It's useful because it's a portable fuel that you can heat anything from a small stove to an entire house with. But propane is dangerous because it's highly flammable. That’s why houses heated by propane have propane tanks outside. Propane must be stored and handled carefully and away from flames.

Example Sentences

In contrast, costs for those using propane or heating oil are expected to stay about the same or fall slightly.

From Barron's • Dec. 29, 2025

Lee quickly scored an interview for a human-resources job at a propane company through a friend who worked there.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025

“The inconvenience is worth it,” Badame said, taking in the view of the sparkling Pacific, looking past his massive propane tank that sits just off their warped street.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

Many familiar items, from plastic squeeze bottles to outdoor furniture, rely on a process that converts propane into propylene.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025

She beamed at me and reached over the propane stove for the pickle crock, where we kept the money.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson