ethane

noun

eth·​ane ˈe-ˌthān How to pronounce ethane (audio)
British usually
ˈē- How to pronounce ethane (audio)
: a colorless odorless gaseous alkane C2H6 found in natural gas and used as a fuel

Examples of ethane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Those plastic dunes could be used to construct surface-level habitats, and the ethane and methane lakes could power them. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026 Natural gas powers much of the world, but its core components, methane, ethane, and propane, have resisted direct conversion into useful chemicals. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Nov. 2025 China is set to import a record volume of US ethane this month as petrochemical producers seek alternative feedstocks for their operations after the war in the Middle East choked off crucial supplies. — Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026 Since 2001, the company has already flown three missions with a small spacecraft, Mira, which was first launched in 2023 with a novel propulsion system powered by non-toxic propellants, nitrous oxide and ethane. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ethane

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from ethyl

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ethane was in 1866

Rhymes for ethane

See All Rhymes for ethane

Browse Nearby Words

ethambutol
ethane
Ethanim
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ethane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethane. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ethane

noun
eth·​ane ˈeth-ˌān How to pronounce ethane (audio)
: a colorless odorless gas that consists of carbon and hydrogen, is found in natural gas, and is used especially as a fuel

Medical Definition

ethane

noun
eth·​ane
ˈeth-ˌān, British ˈē-ˌthān
: a colorless odorless gaseous alkane C2H6 found in natural gas and used especially as a fuel

More from Merriam-Webster on ethane

Nglish: Translation of ethane for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ethane

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