methane

noun

meth·​ane ˈme-ˌthān 

 British usually  ˈmē-

: a colorless odorless flammable gaseous hydrocarbon CH₄ that is a product of biological decomposition of organic matter and of the carbonization of coal, is used as a fuel and as a starting material in chemical synthesis, and is the simplest of the alkanes

Examples of methane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 118 is on the scene, and Gerrard has correctly noted the likely cause of the explosion — gas pockets from the reservoir incident that leaked methane into the water supply. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 16 May 2025

In other words, methane warms the atmosphere a lot faster than CO2 in the near-term. —Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

Together, those sources would be the world's fourth-largest methane source. —Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025

The moves will impact several climate programs including the greenhouse gas reporting program and EPA’s partnerships on methane – a super-polluting, planet-warming gas emitted from oil and gas, agriculture and landfills. —Annie Grayer, CNN Money, 6 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for methane

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

Kids Definition

methane

noun

meth·​ane ˈmeth-ˌān 

: a colorless odorless flammable gas that consists of carbon and hydrogen and is produced by decay of organic matter

Medical Definition

methane

noun

meth·​ane

ˈmeth-ˌān, British usually ˈmē-ˌthān

: a colorless, odorless, flammable, gaseous hydrocarbon CH₄ that is lighter than air, forms explosive mixtures with air or oxygen, and occurs naturally as a by-product of the decomposition of organic matter by anaerobic bacteria

called also marsh gas