butane

noun

bu·​tane ˈbyü-ˌtān 

: either of two isomeric flammable gaseous alkanes C₄H₁₀ obtained usually from petroleum or natural gas and used as fuels

Examples of butane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Officers found the man inside the building that night with multiple bags of liquids, which investigators later learned were hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and butane. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026

The substances included sodium hydroxide pellets, hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and butane, according to the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026

Police searched Tong's bags to find chemicals known to be used in making meth, including sodium hydroxide pellets, hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and butane. —CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026

The news release identified the substances as sodium hydroxide pellets, hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and butane. —Janat Batra, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary butyric + -ane

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for butane

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• campaign
• cetane

Kids Definition

butane

noun

bu·​tane ˈbyü-ˌtān 

: either of two flammable gases that are hydrocarbons obtained usually from petroleum or natural gas and used especially as a fuel

Medical Definition

butane

noun

bu·​tane ˈbyü-ˌtān 

: either of two isomeric flammable gaseous alkanes C₄H₁₀ obtained usually from petroleum or natural gas and used as fuels