gas Hear it!

gas Definition

gas (gas)

noun pl. gases or gas′·sesgas′iz

  1. the fluid form of a substance in which it can expand indefinitely and completely fill its container; form that is neither liquid nor solid; vapor
  2. any mixture of flammable gases used for lighting, heating, or cooking
  3. any gas, as nitrous oxide, used as an anesthetic
  4. any substance, as phosgene, intentionally dispersed through the atmosphere, as in war, to act as a poison, irritant, or asphyxiant
  5. various gaseous substances formed by living or decaying matter, esp. if formed in the stomach, bowels, etc.
  6. Informal gasoline
  7. ☆ Slang
    1. idle or boastful talk
    2. something or someone that is very pleasing, exciting, amusing, etc. the movie was a gas
  8. Mining a mixture of firedamp with air, that explodes if ignited

Etymology: ModL, altered by Van Helmont (1577-1644), Belgian chemist (with g- pronounced, as in Du, as a voiced fricative) < Gr chaos, air (see chaos), term used by Paracelsus

transitive verb gassed, gas′·sing

  1. to supply with gas
  2. to subject to the action of gas
  3. to injure or kill by gas, as in war
  4. ☆ Slang to thrill, delight, amuse greatly, etc.

intransitive verb

  1. to give off gas
  2. ☆ Slang to talk in an idle or boastful way

adjective

of, using, or operated by gas

gas Idioms

gas up

☆

Informal to put gasoline into the tank of (a vehicle)

step on the gas

☆
  1. Slang to press on the accelerator of an automobile
  2. to hurry; move or act faster

gas Synonyms

gas

n.

  1. A state of matter

    vapor, volatile substance, fumes, aeriform fluid, gaseous mixture.

  2. *Gasoline

    propellant, petrol (British), motor fuel; see gasoline.

  3. Poisonous gas

    Poisonous gases include: vesicant, incendiary gas, Lewisite, mustard gas, chloral gas, chlorine, carbon monoxide, methyl isocyanate, bromide, bromoacetone, phosgene, chloropicrin, Agent Orange, hydrocyanic acid, arsine, stibine, chloracetophenone, brombenzylcyanide, Adamsite, asphyxiating gas, vesicatory gas, moldy hay*.

  4. An anesthetic

    ether, general anesthetic, chloroform, nitrous oxide, laughing gas*.

step on the gas*

rush, move fast, speed up, step on it*; see hurry 1, speed.

gas Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • liquefy: Britain also buys a liquefied natural gas via a tanker terminal in Kent.
  • tear: Israeli troops hurl tear gas to quell the rioting.
  • emit: In fact, the average home emits more harmful carbon dioxide gas than the average car every year.
  • compress: The formation of a new generation of stars is now taking place within this compressed gas in these outer shell structures.

Adjective modifier

  • inert: Whit to congressional mirror was placed inert gases in.
  • toxic: In the Autumn of 1914, the Wilhelm Institute began the search to find the perfect toxic gas for use in land warfare.
  • poisonous: UN and human rights groups put the death toll at upwards of 100,000; poisonous gas was used against scores of Kurdish villages.
  • natural: Gazprom, which is already the monopoly supplier of Russian natural gas to Europe, now wants a similar monopoly over exports to Asia.

Modifies a noun

  • emission: The longer we take to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, the greater the impacts.
  • hob: Kitchen The kitchen is fully fitted and equipped with microwave oven, gas hob and electric oven and crockery for up to four persons.
  • turbine: These are all indicators of a gas turbine 's health at any given point in time.
  • appliance: Gas appliance checks I have just let out a property for the first time.
  • chamber: All would be bound for the gas chamber upon the triumph of the Nazi will.
  • cooker: The tenant may simply prefer cooking by electric, or may not have the means to buy a new gas cooker.

Noun used with modifier

  • greenhouse: How will the climate change in response to rising levels of greenhouse gases?
  • flue: Larger plants require the use of several modules to deal with the total flue gas flow.
  • poison: A platform which stands a few feet above napalm, torture, exploitation, poison gas, nuclear bombs, the works.
  • petroleum: This would bring the market more in line with liquid petroleum gas, which enjoys 40p per liter reduction in duty.
  • landfill: Boosted capacity to generate power from landfill gas to over 90 megawatts in the UK.
  • exhaust: Turbine hybrid systems can be used to utilize the energy of the exhaust gases.