noun
butane
BYOO-tayn
Butane (noun) means a flammable hydrocarbon gas, used as fuel for lighters and camping stoves and found in petroleum. Example: “The camping stove ran on a small canister of butane.”
noun
1
A flammable hydrocarbon gas, used as fuel for lighters and camping stoves and found in petroleum.
"The camping stove ran on a small canister of butane."
How to use butane
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA gas used as fuel, common in cigarette lighters and portable stoves.
Common pairings
butane lighter
butane gas canister
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Word forms
- Plural
- butanes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The camping stove ran on a small canister of _____.
Etymology
Built from but- (a prefix indicating four carbon atoms, from the same root as "butter") plus the chemistry suffix -ane used for alkanes.
Synonyms
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E943a
Rhymes for butane
See all rhymes for butane →Frequently asked questions
What does “butane” mean?
The word “butane” means a flammable hydrocarbon gas, used as fuel for lighters and camping stoves and found in petroleum. In plain terms, a gas used as fuel, common in cigarette lighters and portable stoves.
How do you pronounce “butane”?
“Butane” is pronounced BYOO-tayn (/ˈbjuːteɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “butane” in a sentence?
Here is “butane” used in a sentence: “The camping stove ran on a small canister of butane.”
What is another word for “butane”?
Words with a similar meaning to “butane” include E943a.
What part of speech is “butane”?
“Butane” is a noun.
