from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Methane \Meth"ane\, n. [See {Methal}.] (Chem.)
A light, colorless, gaseous, inflammable hydrocarbon, {CH4};
marsh gas. It is the simplest of the aliphatic hydrocarbons.
See {Marsh gas}, under {Gas}.
[1913 Webster]
{Methane series} (Chem.), a series of saturated hydrocarbons,
of which methane is the first member and type, and
(because of their general chemical inertness and
indifference) called also the {paraffin (little affinity)
series}. The lightest members are gases, as methane,
ethane; intermediate members are liquids, as hexane,
heptane, etc. (found in benzine, kerosene, etc.); while
the highest members are white, waxy, or fatty solids, as
paraffin proper.
[1913 Webster]