Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Origin: butyl type of chemical group (19-21 centuries) (from Latin butyrum ( BUTTER1); because it smells of butter that is no longer fresh) + -ane 'carbon chemical compound'

butane

 noun
     
Related topics: Gas, Coal, Oil
bu‧tane [uncountable]
TPG a gas stored in liquid form, used for cooking and heating
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary