methane
nounUK /ˈmiːθeɪn/
US /ˈmɛθeɪn/
A gas with no color or smell that burns easily and comes from rotting plants and animals.
The cows on the farm produce methane when they digest their food.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A colorless, odorless flammable gas that is the main component of natural gas and is used as fuel.
The stove runs on methane piped in from the city's gas supply.
3. A greenhouse gas released by livestock, landfills, and wetlands that contributes to climate change.
Scientists measure methane levels in the atmosphere to track global warming.
4. The simplest alkane hydrocarbon, consisting of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms.
In chemistry class we learned that methane has the formula CH4.