Meaning & use
methane
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
A colorless, odorless, flammable gas made of carbon and hydrogen, the main component of natural gas.
Grammar: Uncountable; used without "a" or a plural. Can be used before another noun: methane emissions.
Patterns
- methane emissions
- methane gas
- release methane
Methane is the primary component of natural gas used for heating and cooking.
Scientists measure methane levels in the atmosphere to track climate change.
The landfill produces methane as waste decomposes.
noununcountable
A potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, often released from agriculture, fossil fuels, and waste.
Grammar: Uncountable; used in environmental contexts.
Patterns
- methane emissions
- reduce methane
- methane from livestock
Reducing methane emissions is a key goal in the fight against climate change.
Cattle farming is a major source of methane.
Common combinations
- methane emissions
- The company pledged to cut methane emissions by 30 percent.
- methane gas
- Methane gas can be captured from landfills and used as fuel.
- methane hydrate
- Methane hydrate is a frozen form of methane found under the ocean floor.
- methane leak
- A methane leak from the pipeline was quickly repaired.
Synonyms and how they differ
- natural gas
- Natural gas is mostly methane but often contains other gases; methane is the pure chemical compound.
- CH4
- The chemical formula for methane; used in technical writing.
Word family
- methanol noun
- A type of alcohol made from methane; a different chemical compound.
- methyl noun
- A chemical group derived from methane; used in organic chemistry.
Commonly confused: methane or menthol?
methane vs menthol
Menthol is a substance with a minty smell used in medicines and candy; methane is a gas.
Practice
Which sentence uses "methane" correctly?
Choose one answer.
Methane is an uncountable noun, so it takes a singular verb and no plural form. The other options incorrectly use plural verbs or nouns.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “methane”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.