butane

Meaning

1. A hydrocarbon (either of the two isomers of C₄H₁₀ n-butane, and 2-methyl-propane) found in gaseous petroleum fractions.
2. The n-butane isomer only.

Synonyms

butane gas

fuel

gas

propane gas

liquid gas

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbjuːteɪn/

Etymology

IUPAC nomenclature, from but- (“four carbon prefix”) + -ane (“alkane suffix”), the former is derived from the same stem as the foul-smelling carboxylic acid liberated in rancid butter, "butyric acid", hence cognate with butter.