| Ethane (n.) A gaseous hydrocarbon, C2H6, forming a constituent of ordinary illuminating gas. It is the second member of the paraffin series, and its most important derivatives are common alcohol, aldehyde, ether, and acetic acid. Called also dimethyl. Thesaurus Entries alcohol, benzine, briquette, burnable, butane, carbon, charcoal, coal, coke, combustible, dope, ethanol, fireball, firing, flammable, flammable material, fuel, fuel additive, fuel dope, gas, gas carbon, gasoline, heptane, hexane, inflammable, inflammable material, isooctane, jet fuel, kerosene, methane, methanol, natural gas, octane, oil, paraffin, peat, pentane, rocket fuel, turf |