Butane definitions

byo͝o'tān'
Either of two isomers of a gaseous hydrocarbon, C4 H10 , produced synthetically from petroleum and used as a household fuel, refrigerant, and aerosol propellant and in the manufacture of synthetic rubber.
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Either of two alkanes (normal butane and isobutane) having the same formula, C4H10, but different structures and used esp. as a fuel.
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An organic compound found in natural gas and produced from petroleum. Butane is used as a household fuel, refrigerant, and propellant in aerosol cans. It is the fourth member of the alkane series. Chemical formula: C4H10.
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(organic chemistry) A hydrocarbon (either of the two isomers of C4H10 n-butane, and 2-methyl-propane) found in gaseous petroleum fractions.
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(organic chemistry, uncountable) The n-butane isomer only.
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Origin of butane

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.