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water gas

noun
  1. a toxic gaseous mixture consisting chiefly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, prepared from steam and incandescent coke: used as an illuminant, fuel, and in organic synthesis.
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Origin of water gas

First recorded in 1850–55
Also called blue gas.
Related formswa·ter-gas, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for water gas

Historical Examples of water gas

  • Water-gas is of low illuminating value, but after it is carbureted it burns with a brilliant flame.

    Artificial Light

    M. Luckiesh

  • It contains more hydrogen, for example, than water-gas and it is well known that hydrogen gives little light on burning.

    Artificial Light

    M. Luckiesh

  • Water-gas made from steam and oil is usually limited to those places where the raw materials are readily available.

    Artificial Light

    M. Luckiesh

  • Water-gas, obtained by passing steam over heated coke, contains 40 per cent.

  • If, therefore, water-gas became generally used, another use for coke would be added to those already referred to (p. 47).

    Coal

    Raphael Meldola

British Dictionary definitions for water gas

water gas

noun
  1. a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced by passing steam over hot carbon, used as a fuel and raw materialSee also producer gas
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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