hydrocarbon
n. countablen. 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.
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.
From hydro- + carbon.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used in the plural when referring to various types of fuels or chemical compounds.
Last updated May 11, 2026