gas

[ gas ]

noun

, plural gas·es or gas·ses.

1. Physics. a substance possessing perfect molecular mobility and the property of indefinite expansion, as opposed to a solid or liquid.
2. any such fluid or mixture of fluids.
3. any such fluid used as an anesthetic, as nitrous oxide:

   Did the dentist give you gas for your extraction?

4. any such combustible fluid used as fuel:

   Light the gas in the oven.

5. Automotive.
   1. gasoline.
   2. Also called gas pedal. the foot-operated accelerator of an automotive vehicle:

      Take your foot off the gas.

6. flatus.
7. Coal Mining. an explosive mixture of firedamp with air.
8. an aeriform fluid or a mistlike assemblage of fine particles suspended in air, used in warfare to asphyxiate, poison, or stupefy an enemy.
9. Slang.
   1. empty talk.
   2. a person or thing that is very entertaining, pleasing, or successful:

      The party was an absolute gas, and we loved it.

   3. a person or thing that affects one strongly.

verb (used with object)

, gassed, gas·sing.

1. to supply with gas.
2. to overcome, poison, or asphyxiate with gas or fumes.
3. to singe (yarns or fabrics) with a gas flame to remove superfluous fibers.
4. to treat or impregnate with gas.
5. Slang.
   1. to talk nonsense or falsehood to.
   2. to amuse or affect strongly:

      Her weird clothes really gas me.

verb (used without object)

, gassed, gas·sing.

1. to give off gas, as a storage battery being charged.
2. Slang.
   1. to indulge in idle, empty talk.
   2. to become drunk (often followed by up ).

verb phrase

1. to fill the gasoline tank of an automobile, truck, or other vehicle.

gas

/ ɡæs /

noun

1. See solid, liquid
   a substance in a physical state in which it does not resist change of shape and will expand indefinitely to fill any container. If very high pressure is applied a gas may become liquid or solid, otherwise its density tends towards that of the condensed phase Compare liquid solid
2. any substance that is gaseous at room temperature and atmospheric pressure
3. See vapour
   any gaseous substance that is above its critical temperature and therefore not liquefiable by pressure alone Compare vapour
4. 1. a fossil fuel in the form of a gas, used as a source of domestic and industrial heat See also coal gas natural gas
   2. ( as modifier )

      gas fire

      a gas cooker

5. a gaseous anaesthetic, such as nitrous oxide
6. mining firedamp or the explosive mixture of firedamp and air
7. See gasoline, petrol
   the usual US, Canadian, and New Zealand word for petrol See also gasoline
8. step on the gas informal.
   step on the gas
   1. to increase the speed of a motor vehicle; accelerate
   2. to hurry
9. a toxic or suffocating substance in suspension in air used against an enemy
10. informal.
    idle talk or boasting
11. slang.
    a delightful or successful person or thing

    his latest record is a gas

12. See flatus
    an informal name for flatus

verb

1. tr to provide or fill with gas
2. tr to subject to gas fumes, esp so as to asphyxiate or render unconscious
3. intr to give off gas, as in the charging of a battery
4. tr (in textiles) to singe (fabric) with a flame from a gas burner to remove unwanted fibres
5. informal.
   intrfoll byto to talk in an idle or boastful way (to a person)
6. slang.
   tr to thrill or delight

gas

/ găs /

1. One of four main states of matter , composed of molecules in constant random motion. Unlike a solid, a gas has no fixed shape and will take on the shape of the space available. Unlike a liquid, the intermolecular forces are very small; it has no fixed volume and will expand to fill the space available.

gas

1. In physics , one of the phases of matter . The atoms or molecules in gases are more widely spaced than in solids or liquids and suffer only occasional collisions with one another.

Derived Forms

• ˈgasless, adjective

Other Words From

• gas·less adjective
• non·gas noun plural nongases

Word History and Origins

Origin of gas¹

First recorded in 1650–60; coined by J. B. van Helmont (1577–1644), Flemish chemist; suggested by Greek cháos “atmosphere”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gas¹

C17 (coined by J. B. van Helmont (1577–1644), Flemish chemist): modification of Greek khaos atmosphere

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. step on the gas, Informal. to increase the speed of one's movement or activity; hurry:

   We'd better step on the gas or we'll be late for the concert.

More idioms and phrases containing gas

In addition to the idiom beginning with gas , also see cook with gas ; run out of steam (gas) .

Example Sentences

In his testimony, DeMarco said he found spent tear gas canisters on the street after protesters were cleared.

From Washington Post

As greenhouse gas emissions warm the planet, the ocean is absorbing vast amounts of that heat.

From Science News

The trouble is, it can be genuinely hard to figure out how to direct your money wisely if you want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

From Vox

On the surface, it’s a triangular tussle involving Turkey, Greece and Cyprus over potentially giant gas reserves deep under the Mediterranean Sea.

From Ozy

The gas is produced by microbes here on Earth, and after most known nonbiological processes were ruled out, the discovery has renewed hopes that there’s life on Venus.

From MIT Technology Review

Security officials told Agence France-Presse that the gas station manager said he had recognized the two men.

From The Daily Beast

Unconfirmed reports in the French media claimed that the brothers were spotted at a gas station in northern France on Thursday.

From The Daily Beast

Total oil production figures include crude oil, natural gas liquids, and other liquid energy products.

From The Daily Beast

On top of oil, the United States produces significantly more natural gas than Saudi Arabia.

From The Daily Beast

Her slight miscalculation of how to fix the situation leads to her driving around the gas pump.

From The Daily Beast

For comparison, the gas may be passed through a test-tube containing an equal amount of distilled water.

From Project Gutenberg

It is allowed to cool, and hydrogen sulphid gas is passed through it for about five minutes.

From Project Gutenberg

You could not see the water till you got close up, and at a distance only the rows of gas jets were apparent.

From Project Gutenberg

Gas, it is clear, could not be carried into a hostile country or into remote and nearly inaccessible districts.

From Project Gutenberg

In its pure state it is a transparent and colourless gas, having a peculiar pungent smell, and highly soluble in water.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• smoke
• vapor