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

The company reported total hydrocarbon production of 191,273 barrels of oil equivalent per day, a decrease of 8% compared to the third quarter of 2023. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024

That shallow sea later formed oil and gas hydrocarbon reservoirs trapped in rock formations, which eventually resulted in the North American oil exploration that brought highs and lows to the region. —Linsey Miller, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

This powder-like material made from common hydrocarbons could soon make its way into filtering devices that capture the climate-warming gas at industrial facilities, power plants or direct air capture systems being deployed. —Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Riyadh is locked in an extensive and costly program spanning 14 giga-projects, including the futuristic desert development Neom, to materialize Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambition of economic diversification away from reliance on hydrocarbon revenues. —Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hydrocarbon

• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
• polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon

Kids Definition

hydrocarbon

noun

hy·​dro·​car·​bon ˌhī-drə-ˈkär-bən 

: a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen

Medical Definition

hydrocarbon

noun

hy·​dro·​car·​bon -ˈkär-bən 

: an organic compound (as acetylene, benzene, or butane) containing only carbon and hydrogen and often occurring in petroleum, natural gas, coal, and bitumens