methane

Etymology

methyl + -ane

noun

1. (organic chemistry, uncountable) The simplest aliphatic hydrocarbon, CH₄, being a constituent of natural gas, and one of the most abundant greenhouse gases.
   Cattle emit a large amount of methane.
   Methane, an invisible, odorless gas that makes up more than 95% of natural gas fuel, can be as much as 80 times more potent as a global warmer per given unit than CO₂, which is more plentiful in the atmosphere. While there are less emissions than CO₂, methane lasts around 12 years, while CO₂ lingers for centuries. April 7, 2020, John Fialka, “As CO₂ Emissions Drop During Pandemic, Methane May Rise”, in Scientific American
2. (organic chemistry, countable) Any of very many derivatives of methane.