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Definition of methane

methane

/ˈmɛθ.eɪn/
meth · ane
Adjective:methanic
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methane Lexical Profile

methane Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A colorless, odorless, flammable gas that is the simplest alkane hydrocarbon and the primary component of natural gas, known for being a potent greenhouse gas.

Example

"Cows and other ruminants release significant amounts of methane into the atmosphere during their digestive process."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for methane

• Rhymes for methane

• Nearby Words

meth
methadone
methamphetamine
methane
methanogen
methanogenesis
methanogenic

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1868 by the German chemist August Wilhelm von Hofmann from 'methyl' combined with the chemical suffix '-ane'. The root 'methyl' traces back to French 'méthyle', coined from the Greek words 'methy' (wine) and 'hyle' (wood).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Methane. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/methane
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