Standard Lemma guide

methanogen

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Any of various archaebacteria capable of methanogenesis.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

archaebacteria found in anaerobic environments such as animal intestinal tracts or sediments or sewage and capable of producing methane; a source of natural gas

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: archaebacteria, archaebacterium, archaeobacteria, archeobacteria

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *médhu Proto-Hellenic *méthu Ancient Greek μέθυ (méthu) Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)der. German -yl German Methylbor. English methyl Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Italic *-nos Latin -nus Latin -ānusder. English -ane English methane Ancient Greek -ο- (-o-)der. Latin -o-bor. English -o- Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh1- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *ǵénh1os Proto-Hellenic *génos Ancient Greek γένος (génos) Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *-ēs Ancient Greek -ης (-ēs) Ancient Greek -γενής (-genḗs)lbor. French -gènebor. English -gen English methanogen From methane + -o- + -gen.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: méthanogène — archaebacterium capable of methanogenesis
  • Irish: meatánaigin — archaebacterium capable of methanogenesis
  • Italian: metanogeno — archaebacterium capable of methanogenesis
  • Spanish: metanógeno — archaebacterium capable of methanogenesis