any saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon with the general formula CnH2n+2
b.
(as modifier)
alkane series
Also called: paraffin
alkane in American English
(ˈælˌkeɪn)
noun
any of a series of saturated hydrocarbons with open chains, having the formula CnH2n+2: these compounds are sometimes said to be in the methane or paraffin series