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

However, Repsol said it booked a 361 million-euro impairment in its chemicals unit as rising prices for raw material like naphtha and propane as well as supply constraints have further compressed margins.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Jitendra Aghara of Simpolo Tiles, one of Morbi's biggest manufacturers, has kept operating by buying propane at more than double the price it was before the war to ensure he fulfills customer orders.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Venezuelans rely on propane gas for cooking and shortages of basics like this are common here in Sucre, one of the country's poorest states.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Authorities say the fire started in the carport after Hales, 46, failed to turn off a propane tank to a stove she was using to make tortilla chips and left it on overnight.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

The next day, Jule borrowed the car to pick up propane for the grill at the hardware store on the other side of the island.

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart