butane

noun

bu·​tane ˈbyü-ˌtān 

: either of two isomeric flammable gaseous alkanes C₄H₁₀ obtained usually from petroleum or natural gas and used as fuels

Examples of butane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Police responding to a trespassing call discovered the man inside the building Sunday night with multiple bags of liquids, which turned out to be hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and butane, the chief said. —ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026

Police say Tong allegedly had multiple substances — including sodium hydroxide pellets, hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, and butane. —Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026

The news release identified the substances as sodium hydroxide pellets, hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and butane. —Janat Batra, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026

Of that mix, 58% is natural gas and 42% is crude oil and other liquids, such as butane and propane. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary butyric + -ane

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for butane

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• campaign
• cetane

Kids Definition

butane

noun

bu·​tane ˈbyü-ˌtān 

: either of two flammable gases that are hydrocarbons obtained usually from petroleum or natural gas and used especially as a fuel

Medical Definition

butane

noun

bu·​tane ˈbyü-ˌtān 

: either of two isomeric flammable gaseous alkanes C₄H₁₀ obtained usually from petroleum or natural gas and used as fuels