methane

An odorless, colorless, flammable gas, CH₄, the major constituent of natural gas, that is used as a fuel and is an important source of hydrogen and a wide variety of organic compounds.

A hydrocarbon (CH₄) belonging to the paraffin series, a colorless, odorless gas which may be reduced to a liquid by extreme pressure and cold.

A light, colorless, gaseous, inflammable hydrocarbon, CH4; marsh gas. It is the simplest of the aliphatic hydrocarbons. See Marsh gas, under gas.

a series of saturated hydrocarbons, of which methane is the first member and type, and (because of their general chemical inertness and indifference) called also the paraffin (little affinity) series. The lightest members are gases, as methane, ethane; intermediate members are liquids, as hexane, heptane, etc. (found in benzine, kerosene, etc.); while the highest members are white, waxy, or fatty solids, as paraffin proper.

The simplest aliphatic hydrocarbon, CH4, being a constituent of natural gas.

Any of very many derivatives of methane.

a colorless odorless gas used as a fuel