hydrogen

noun

hy·​dro·​gen ˈhī-drə-jən 

-dər-

: a nonmetallic gaseous chemical element with atomic number 1 that is the simplest and lightest of the elements and that is used especially in the processing of fossil fuels and the synthesis of ammonia

—often used before another noun

hydrogen gas

hydrogen atoms

a hydrogen vehicle

the hydrogen industry

see Chemical Elements Table compare deuterium, tritium

hydrogenous

hī-ˈdrä-jə-nəs 

adjective

Examples of hydrogen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The state is also trying to green the hydrogen itself. —Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024

That development, which would use a solar power array to strip hydrogen from the water, is on federal land, which Mayes said would complicate such an effort. —The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024

Each galaxy has hydrogen gas that aids in the birth of stars. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024

The giant balloon is propelled by hydrogen and rises up at a slow speed of 12 miles per hour (19 kilometers per hour), reaching an altitude of 20 miles (30 kilometers). —Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024

Of all the emerging forms of aviation propulsion, hydrogen seems the least likely to be an early adopter. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024

European aerospace giant Airbus is considering hydrogen fuel as well for its planes. —Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024

At the Statehouse, the plant’s owners and others have touted wind, solar, geothermal, nuclear, and even green hydrogen as possible replacements down the line. —Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024

Lunar refineries could separate the hydrogen and oxygen atoms of water molecules, then possibly use them to create breathable air and rocket fuel—resources that are enormously expensive to send from Earth. —David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French hydrogène, from hydr- + -gène -gen; from the fact that water is generated by its combustion

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hydrogen

• heavy hydrogen
• hydrogen iodide
• hydrogen bond
• hydrogen peroxide
• hydrogen ion
• hydrogen bromide
• hydrogen sulfide
• hydrogen chloride
• hydrogen bomb
• hydrogen fluoride
• hydrogen cyanide

Kids Definition

hydrogen

noun

hy·​dro·​gen ˈhī-drə-jən 

: a chemical element that is the simplest and lightest of all chemical elements and is normally found alone as a colorless odorless highly flammable gas having two atoms per molecule see element

hydrogenous

hī-ˈdräj-ə-nəs 

adjective

Etymology

from French hydrogène "hydrogen," from hydr- "water" and -gène "producer"; so called because when hydrogen gas burns, it combines with oxygen to produce water

Medical Definition

hydrogen

noun

hy·​dro·​gen ˈhī-drə-jən 

: a nonmetallic element that is the simplest and lightest of the elements and that is normally a colorless odorless highly flammable diatomic gas

—symbol H see deuterium, tritium Chemical Elements Table

hydrogenous

hī-ˈdräj-ə-nəs 

adjective