methane

[ meth-eyn; British mee-theyn ]
/ ˈmɛθ eɪn; British ˈmi θeɪn /
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noun Chemistry.

a colorless, odorless, flammable gas, CH4, the main constituent of marsh gas and the firedamp of coal mines, obtained commercially from natural gas: the first member of the methane, or alkane, series of hydrocarbons.

Origin of methane

First recorded in 1865–70; meth- + -ane

Words nearby methane

methaemoglobin, methamphetamine, methamphetamine hydrochloride, methanal, methanation, methane, methane series, methanesulfonic acid, methanogen, methanoic acid, methanol

Example sentences from the Web for methane

British Dictionary definitions for methane

methane
/ (ˈmiːθeɪn) /

noun

a colourless odourless flammable gas, the simplest alkane and the main constituent of natural gas: used as a fuel. Formula: CH 4 See also marsh gas, firedamp

Word Origin for methane

C19: from meth ( yl) + -ane

Medical definitions for methane

methane
[ mĕth′ān′ ]

n.

An odorless, colorless, flammable gas that is the major constituent of natural gas and is used as a fuel and as an important source of hydrogen. marsh gas

Scientific definitions for methane

methane
[ mĕth′ān′ ]

A colorless, odorless, flammable gas that is the simplest hydrocarbon. It is the major constituent of natural gas and is released during the decomposition of plant or other organic compounds, as in marshes and coal mines. Methane is the first member of the alkane series. Chemical formula: CH4.