Meaning & use

methane

noun·Academic

A colorless, odorless, flammable gas made of carbon and hydrogen that is the main component of natural gas.

See it in a sentence

Cows release methane as part of their digestion, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Engineers captured methane from the landfill and used it to generate electricity for nearby homes.

A note on using this word

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, so it appears often in discussions of climate change and energy, not just chemistry.

Words with a similar meaning

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