hydrocarbon

[ hahy-druh-kahr-buh n, hahy-druh-kahr- ]
/ ˌhaɪ drəˈkɑr bən, ˈhaɪ drəˌkɑr- /

noun

any of a class of compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon, as an alkane, methane, CH4, an alkene, ethylene, C2H4, an alkyne, acetylene, C2H2, or an aromatic compound, benzene, C6H6.

Origin of hydrocarbon

First recorded in 1820–30; hydro-2 + carbon

OTHER WORDS FROM hydrocarbon

hy·dro·car·bo·na·ceous, adjective

Words nearby hydrocarbon

hydrobomb, hydrobromic, hydrobromic acid, hydrobromide, hydrocalycosis, hydrocarbon, hydrocarbons, hydrocast, hydrocele, hydrocele spinalis, hydrocelectomy

Example sentences from the Web for hydrocarbon

British Dictionary definitions for hydrocarbon

hydrocarbon
/ (ˌhaɪdrəʊˈkɑːbən) /

noun

any organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen, such as the alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, terpenes, and arenes

Medical definitions for hydrocarbon

hydrocarbon
[ hī′drə-kär′bən ]

n.

An organic compound, such as benzene and methane, that contains only carbon and hydrogen.

Scientific definitions for hydrocarbon

hydrocarbon
[ hī′drə-kär′bən ]

Any of numerous organic compounds, such as benzene, that contain only carbon and hydrogen.