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hydrocarbon
noun
hy·dro·car·bon
ˈhī-drō-ˌkär-bən
: an organic compound (such as acetylene or butane) containing only carbon and hydrogen and often occurring in petroleum, natural gas, coal, and bitumens
Examples of hydrocarbon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, Canada went from a small but advanced manufacturing economy to an oil and gas giant, funneling massive amounts of hydrocarbons to the United States.
—Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 30 Nov. 2024
Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, is still heavily reliant on hydrocarbon revenues, and low oil prices and production have hit state coffers.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Chroming is the act of intentionally using legal products to inhale hydrocarbons and other volatile gasses and vapors.
—Korin Miller, Health, 2 Oct. 2024
Unlike most oils, jojoba oil is mainly composed of fatty acids, alcohol, and hydrocarbons.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 23 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1826, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing hydrocarbon
Dictionary Entries Near hydrocarbon
Cite this Entry
“Hydrocarbon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrocarbon. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
hydrocarbon
noun
hy·dro·car·bon
ˌhī-drə-ˈkär-bən
: a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen
More from Merriam-Webster on hydrocarbon
Nglish: Translation of hydrocarbon for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hydrocarbon
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