coal gas

American  

noun

1. a gas used for illuminating and heating, produced by distilling bituminous coal and consisting chiefly of hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide.

2. the gas formed by burning coal.

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coal gas British  

noun

1. a mixture of gases produced by the distillation of bituminous coal and used for heating and lighting: consists mainly of hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide

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Etymology

Origin of coal gas

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

Nearly 70 percent of Japan's power needs in 2023 were met by power plants burning coal, gas and oil -- a figure Tokyo wants to slash to 30-40 percent over the next 15 years.

From Barron's • Nov. 21, 2025

On top of that, the coal, gas, and nuclear power plants that produce that electricity themselves consume even larger quantities of water to stay cool.

From Salon • Sep. 6, 2024

Over the last five decades, we’ve burned enough coal, gas and oil, cut down enough trees, and produced enough other emissions to trap some six billion Hiroshima bombs’ worth of heat inside the climate system.

From Scientific American • Jul. 14, 2023

In 2021, some 80.5% of Morocco's electricity production came from burning coal, gas and oil.

From BBC • May 3, 2023

Back home in the United Kingdom, food, clothes, coal, gas, and electricity were in such short supply they had to be rationed.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein