propane

noun

pro·​pane ˈprō-ˌpān 

: a heavy flammable gaseous alkane C₃H₈ found in crude petroleum and natural gas and used especially as fuel and in chemical synthesis

Examples of propane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anything flammable touching your house has the potential to ignite it; among the most hazardous items are paints, solvents and propane tanks. —Juan Fernandez, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

After a train derailment involving a truck containing liquid propane, 51 is forced to fight the fire all by its lonesome — and with a low water supply, no less. —Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026

Do not dispose of propane tanks in the trash. —Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 4 Jan. 2026

Bloomberg reported in December 2024 that Venezuelans were turning to firewood and even their own furniture to cook after an explosion at a propane plant wiped out most of the country’s transmission. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary prop- + -ane

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for propane

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

Kids Definition

propane

noun

pro·​pane ˈprō-ˌpān 

: a heavy flammable gas found in crude petroleum and natural gas and used especially as fuel and in the chemical industry

Medical Definition

propane

noun

pro·​pane ˈprō-ˌpān 

: a heavy flammable gaseous alkane C₃H₈ found in crude petroleum and natural gas and used especially as fuel and in chemical synthesis