gas

[ gas ]

/ gæs /

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See synonyms for: gas / gases / gassed / gassing on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural gas·es or gas·ses.

Physics. a substance possessing perfect molecular mobility and the property of indefinite expansion, as opposed to a solid or liquid.

any such fluid or mixture of fluids.

any such fluid used as an anesthetic, as nitrous oxide: Did the dentist give you gas for your extraction?

any such combustible fluid used as fuel: Light the gas in the oven.

Automotive.

gasoline.
Also called gas pedal . the foot-operated accelerator of an automotive vehicle: Take your foot off the gas.

flatus.

Coal Mining. an explosive mixture of firedamp with air.

an aeriform fluid or a mistlike assemblage of fine particles suspended in air, used in warfare to asphyxiate, poison, or stupefy an enemy.

Slang.

empty talk.
a person or thing that is very entertaining, pleasing, or successful: The party was an absolute gas, and we loved it.
a person or thing that affects one strongly.

verb (used with object), gassed, gas·sing.

to supply with gas.

to overcome, poison, or asphyxiate with gas or fumes.

to singe (yarns or fabrics) with a gas flame to remove superfluous fibers.

to treat or impregnate with gas.

Slang.

to talk nonsense or falsehood to.
to amuse or affect strongly: Her weird clothes really gas me.

verb (used without object), gassed, gas·sing.

to give off gas, as a storage battery being charged.

Slang.

to indulge in idle, empty talk.
to become drunk (often followed by up).

Verb Phrases

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

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Idioms about gas

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.

Origin of gas

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

OTHER WORDS FROM gas

gasless, adjectivenon·gas, noun, plural non·gas·es.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH gas

fluid, gas , liquid (see synonym study at liquid)

Words nearby gas

garter stitch, garth, garvey, Garvey, Marcus, Gary, gas, gas bacillus, gasbag, gas black, gas burner, gas chamber

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gas in a sentence

In his testimony, DeMarco said he found spent tear gas canisters on the street after protesters were cleared.
How the Trump administration has tried to explain clearing protesters from Lafayette Square|JM Rieger|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
As greenhouse gas emissions warm the planet, the ocean is absorbing vast amounts of that heat.
Underwater earthquakes’ sound waves reveal changes in ocean warming|Carolyn Gramling|September 17, 2020|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.
Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money.|Sigal Samuel|September 17, 2020|Vox
On the surface, it’s a triangular tussle involving Turkey, Greece and Cyprus over potentially giant gas reserves deep under the Mediterranean Sea.
Butterfly Effect: The Next U.S.-Russia Conflict Theater Could be the Mediterranean|Charu Kasturi|September 17, 2020|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.
We need to go to Venus as soon as possible|Neel Patel|September 16, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Security officials told Agence France-Presse that the gas station manager said he had recognized the two men.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Unconfirmed reports in the French media claimed that the brothers were spotted at a gas station in northern France on Thursday.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Total oil production figures include crude oil, natural gas liquids, and other liquid energy products.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
On top of oil, the United States produces significantly more natural gas than Saudi Arabia.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Her slight miscalculation of how to fix the situation leads to her driving around the gas pump.
Slow Motion Tiger Jump, a Tornado at the Rose Bowl and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For comparison, the gas may be passed through a test-tube containing an equal amount of distilled water.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
It is allowed to cool, and hydrogen sulphid gas is passed through it for about five minutes.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
You could not see the water till you got close up, and at a distance only the rows of gas jets were apparent.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Gas, it is clear, could not be carried into a hostile country or into remote and nearly inaccessible districts.
Asbestos|Robert H. Jones
In its pure state it is a transparent and colourless gas, having a peculiar pungent smell, and highly soluble in water.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson

British Dictionary definitions for gas

gas

/ (ɡæs) /

noun plural gases or gasses

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 phaseCompare liquid (def. 1), solid (def. 1)

any substance that is gaseous at room temperature and atmospheric pressure

any gaseous substance that is above its critical temperature and therefore not liquefiable by pressure aloneCompare vapour (def. 2)

a fossil fuel in the form of a gas, used as a source of domestic and industrial heatSee also coal gas, natural gas
(as modifier)a gas cooker; gas fire

a gaseous anaesthetic, such as nitrous oxide

mining firedamp or the explosive mixture of firedamp and air

the usual US, Canadian, and New Zealand word for petrol See also gasoline

step on the gas informal

to increase the speed of a motor vehicle; accelerate
to hurry

a toxic or suffocating substance in suspension in air used against an enemy

informal idle talk or boasting

slang a delightful or successful person or thinghis latest record is a gas

US an informal name for flatus

verb gases, gasses, gassing or gassed

(tr) to provide or fill with gas

(tr) to subject to gas fumes, esp so as to asphyxiate or render unconscious

(intr) to give off gas, as in the charging of a battery

(tr) (in textiles) to singe (fabric) with a flame from a gas burner to remove unwanted fibres

(intr foll by to) informal to talk in an idle or boastful way (to a person)

(tr) slang, mainly US and Canadian to thrill or delight

Derived forms of gas

gasless, adjective

Word Origin for gas

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for gas

gas

[ găs ]

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.

Other words from gas

gaseous adjective (găs′ē-əs, găsh′əs)

Cultural definitions for gas

gas

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.

Other Idioms and Phrases with gas

gas

In addition to the idiom beginning with gas

gas up

also see:

cook with gas
run out of steam (gas)

gas

Idioms about gas

Origin of gas

OTHER WORDS FROM gas

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH gas

Words nearby gas

Words related to gas

How to use gas in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gas

Derived forms of gas

Word Origin for gas

Scientific definitions for gas

Other words from gas

Cultural definitions for gas

Other Idioms and Phrases with gas