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# methane

noun (methane — uncountable)

«methane» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

Methane is a gas with no colour or smell that burns easily; it is the main part of natural gas used for cooking and heating. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/methane/#m1)

### In the lessons

In science lessons methane is a greenhouse gas that traps heat; cows, rice fields, swamps and rubbish tips give it off. Its formula is CH4: one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Phrases: «methane gas», «natural gas».

### Examples

- Methane is the main part of natural gas. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/methane/#x1)
- Cows burp out methane. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/methane/#x2)
- Methane is a greenhouse gas. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/methane/#x3)
- Rotting rubbish in landfills makes methane. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/methane/#x4)
- The gas cooker burns methane. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/methane/#x5)
- A methane molecule has 1 carbon and 4 hydrogen atoms; how many atoms in all? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/methane/#x6)

### Note

Uncountable. UK said MEE-thane, US METH-ane. Gas companies add a smell to natural gas so you can notice leaks — methane itself has none. Safety: if you smell gas, get out and call for help.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «methane» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/methane/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«methane» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/methane.html) on Mova free.