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

However, not all studies agree that methane is a direct cause of constipation. —Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 31 Oct. 2025

The effort is built around Prometheus, described as a reusable, high-thrust, low-cost methane-liquid oxygen rocket engine that will power the demonstrators. —Andrew Jones, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2025

And in Tennessee’s South Memphis, the methane gas turbines that power an xAI data center give off air pollutants contributing to smog and formaldehyde. —Natalie Kainz, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025

City officials are also planning multiple new projects in 2026 and 2027 that will allow Miramar to transform more methane gas emanating from the trash into energy. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 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