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hydrocarbons

 - 7 dictionary results

hy⋅dro⋅car⋅bon

  [hahy-druh-kahr-buhn, hahy-druh-kahr-]
Use hydrocarbons in a Sentence
–noun
any of a class of compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon, as an alkane, methane, CH4, an alkene, ethylene, C2H4, an alkyne, acetylene, C2H2, or an aromatic compound, benzene, C6H6.
Origin:
1820–30; hydro- 2 + carbon

Related forms:
hy⋅dro⋅car⋅bo⋅na⋅ceous, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hydrocarbons
hy·dro·car·bon   (hī'drə-kär'bən)   
n.  Any of numerous organic compounds, such as benzene and methane, that contain only carbon and hydrogen.
hy'dro·car'bo·na'ceous (-bə-nā'shəs), hy'dro·car·bon'ic (-bŏn'ĭk), hy'dro·car'bon·ous (-bə-nəs) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

hydrocarbons

Chemical compounds whose main feature is a long chain of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms. Hydrocarbons are organic molecules.

Note: Many hydrocarbons are used as fuels. Some examples of hydrocarbon fuels are the components of gasoline; methane, which is the main ingredient of natural gas; and some components of wood.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

hydrocarbon 
1826, "compound of hydrogen and carbon," formed in Eng. from hydro-, comb. form of Gk. hydor "water" (see water (n.1)) + carbon.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: hy·dro·car·bon
Pronunciation: -'kär-b&n
Function: noun
: an organic compound (as acetylene, benzene, or butane)containing only carbon and hydrogen and often occurring in petroleum, natural gas, coal, and bitumens
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

hydrocarbon hy·dro·car·bon (hī'drə-kär'bən)
n.
An organic compound, such as benzene and methane, that contains only carbon and hydrogen.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
hydrocarbon   (hī'drə-kär'bən)  Pronunciation Key 
Any of numerous organic compounds, such as benzene, that contain only carbon and hydrogen.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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