methane Chem.
(ˈmɛθeɪn, ˈmiːθeɪn)
Also -an.
[f. methyl) + -ane.]
Light carburetted hydrogen, methyl hydride or marsh-gas (CH4), a colourless odourless gas emanating from stagnant pools, volcanoes, petroleum wells, and esp. from coal-seams, in which, mixed with seven or eight parts of air, it forms a violent explosive (cf. fire-damp).
| 1868 Fownes' Chem. (ed. 10) 178 Methane or Marsh Gas;..Fire-damp.—This gas is but too often found to be abundantly disengaged in coal-mines. 1893 Brit. Jrnl. Photogr. XL. 812 The mean temperatures of explosions with methane, ethane and propane were 667°, 616°, and 547° respectively. 1899 J. Cagney tr. Jaksch's Clin. Diagn. vii. (ed. 4) 383 The urine held hydrogen, nitrogen,..and probably methan. |