hydrocarbon

[ hahy-druh-kahr-buhn, hahy-druh-kahr- ]

noun

1. any of a class of compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon, as an alkane, methane, CH 4 , an alkene, ethylene, C 2 H 4 , an alkyne, acetylene, C 2 H 2 , or an aromatic compound, benzene, C 6 H 6 .

hydrocarbon

/ ˌhaɪdrəʊˈkɑːbən /

noun

1. any organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen, such as the alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, terpenes, and arenes

hydrocarbon

/ hī′drə-kär′bən /

1. Any of numerous organic compounds, such as benzene, that contain only carbon and hydrogen.

Other Words From

• hydro·carbo·naceous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydrocarbon¹

First recorded in 1820–30; hydro- ² + carbon

Example Sentences

Canada’s oilsands are especially dirtyFossil fuels are hydrocarbons, which is just the chemical term for a molecule made up of hydrogen and carbon.

From Popular-Science

The process produces hydrocarbon gases too, which could be used to generate heat to run the reaction at a recycling plant, Scott says.

From Science News

The resulting hydrocarbon molecules can serve as a jet fuel.

From Science News For Students

The fossil fuels they burn to create all these emissions are hydrocarbons, which means they are made up of a combination of carbon and hydrogen.

From Singularity Hub 

There are many good alternatives now to burning fossilized hydrocarbons.

From Nautilus

The allegation concerns hydrocarbon releases from the wastewater system at the unloading facility.

From The Daily Beast

Its offshore territory is part of the hydrocarbon-rich Levant Basin.

From The Daily Beast

The hydrocarbon bonanza in the United States gives Obama a significant opportunity.

From The Daily Beast

That horizontal segment allows the well to have far greater exposure to the hydrocarbon reservoir.

From The Daily Beast

In Denmark, the poster child for wind power, neither carbon dioxide emissions nor hydrocarbon consumption have been reduced.

From The Daily Beast

Chemically, the camphors may be divided into two main groups, according to the nature of the corresponding hydrocarbon or terpene.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the chemical compounds here indicated is a hydrocarbon similar to that found in comets.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence it is a hydrocarbon of the terpene series, having the general formula CnH2n-4.

From Project Gutenberg

The undissolved hydrocarbon is similarly purified by fractional distillation, and furnishes the solid crystalline naphthalene.

From Project Gutenberg

The greater portion of the hydrocarbon is contained in the carbolic oil, and is separated and purified in the manner described.

From Project Gutenberg