natural gas

formed from natural + gas, as opposed to coal gas (19th Century).

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natural gas (countable and uncountable, plural natural gases)

1. A mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons associated with petroleum deposits; mostly methane with smaller amounts of ethane, propane and butane; principally used as a fuel.
   • 1946 July and August, “The Why and The Wherefore: Natural Gas at Heathfield”, in Railway Magazine, page 263:

     For a good many years, beginning in London, Brighton & South Coast days, the station at Heathfield, between Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne, was lighted by natural gas. The use of this illuminant was discontinued about 1934.

   • 2010, Kelly Swanson, Human Geography‎, page 169:

     Natural gas is an odorless, colorless gas from inside the Earth. When burned, it provides abundant heat to homes and businesses around the United States and the world.

• compressed natural gas (CNG)
• dry natural gas
• liquid natural gas (LNG)

• petroleum gas