-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
: 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
Aiming to cut methane emissions from the United States, President Joe Biden’s administration on Tuesday finalized a methane fee for big oil and gas producers.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
There's so much food releasing methane in landfills around the world, the total emissions impact is more than that of any individual country, except the U.S. and China.
—London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
Nearer-term, policies like the IRA's methane fee can affect production decisions, Sommers said.
—Ben Geman, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
Germain believes the company will need 20 satellites total to track daily methane and CO2 spikes, with potential clients including oil and gas companies looking to mitigate emissions.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for methane
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary
First Known Use
1867, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near methane
Cite this Entry
“Methane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methane. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on methane
Nglish: Translation of methane for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about methane
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share