Word
hydrocarbon
Phoneticshy·dro·car·bon
US/ˌhaɪdɹoʊˈkɑɹbən/
UK/hˈaɪdɹəkˌɑːbən/
Definition
n. a chemical substance made only of hydrogen and carbon. You find these in things like oil, coal, and natural gas.
n. an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms. These molecules serve as the primary constituents of petroleum and natural gas.
Examples
“Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon found in nature.”
“The chemical plant processes raw hydrocarbons into plastics and other synthetic materials for industrial use.”
“Environmental regulations aim to reduce the emission of unburned hydrocarbons from internal combustion engines, as these compounds contribute significantly to the formation of ground-level ozone and smog.”
Examples
simple
“Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon found in nature.”
contextual
“The chemical plant processes raw hydrocarbons into plastics and other synthetic materials for industrial use.”
complex
“Environmental regulations aim to reduce the emission of unburned hydrocarbons from internal combustion engines, as these compounds contribute significantly to the formation of ground-level ozone and smog.”
Usage
Often used in the plural when referring to various types of fuels or chemical compounds.
Real-World Examples
“In 2009, Cassini detected a specular glint off the hydrocarbon lakes on the surface of Titan.” “Insects also have waxy molecules called cuticular hydrocarbons that coat their exoskeletons protecting them from desiccation.” Etymology
From hydro- + carbon.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hydrocarbon