Definition of 'gas'

Word Frequency

gas

(gæs )

Word forms: plural gases , 3rd person singular present tense gasses , present participle gassing , past tense, past participle gassed language note: The form gases is the plural of the noun. The form gasses is the third person singular of the verb.

1. uncountable noun

Gas is a substance like air that is neither liquid nor solid and burns easily. It is used as a fuel for cooking and heating.

Coal is actually cheaper than gas.

...a contract to develop oil and gas reserves.

2. variable noun

A gas is any substance that is neither liquid nor solid, for example oxygen or hydrogen.

Helium is a very light gas.

...a huge cloud of gas and dust from the volcanic eruption.

3. variable noun

Gas is a poisonous gas that can be used as a weapon.

...mustard gas.

The problem was that the exhaust gases contain many toxins.

4. variable noun

Gas is a gas used for medical purposes, for example to make patients feel less pain or go to sleep during an operation.

[informal]

...an anaesthetic gas used by many dentists.

5. uncountable noun

Gas is the fuel which is used to drive motor vehicles.

[US]

...a tank of gas.

...gas stations.

regional note: in BRIT, use petrol

Synonyms: petrol, gasoline [US, Canadian, New Zealand] More Synonyms of gas

6. verb

To gas a person or animal means to kill them by making them breathe poisonous gas.

Her husband ran a pipe from her car exhaust to the bedroom in an attempt to gas her. [VERB noun]

7. singular noun [a NOUN]

You can describe a situation or event as a gas when it is very lively, amusing, and enjoyable.

[informal, old-fashioned]

It was really a gas to find someone I could talk with.

step on the gas

More Synonyms of gas

Video: pronunciation of 'gas'

Word Frequency

gas in British

(ɡæs )

nounWord forms: 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 phase

Compare liquid (sense 1), solid (sense 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 alone

Compare vapour (sense 2)

a fossil fuel in the form of a gas, used as a source of domestic and industrial heat

gas in American

(gæs ; gas)

nounWord forms: plural gases or ˈgasses (ˈgæsɪz ; gasˈiz)

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

any mixture of flammable gases used for lighting, heating, or cooking

any gas, as nitrous oxide, used as an anesthetic

any substance, as phosgene, intentionally dispersed through the atmosphere, as in war, to act as a poison, irritant, or asphyxiant

various gaseous substances formed by living or decaying matter, esp. if formed in the stomach, bowels, etc.

6. Informal

gasoline

7. US, Slang

idle or boastful talk

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

verb transitiveWord forms: gassed or ˈgassing

to supply with gas

10.

to subject to the action of gas

11.

to injure or kill by gas, as in war

12. US, Slang

to thrill, delight, amuse greatly, etc.

verb intransitive

13.

to give off gas

14. US, Slang

to talk in an idle or boastful way

adjective

15.

of, using, or operated by gas

Idioms:

gas up

step on the gas

Word origin of 'gas'

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

Example sentences containing 'gas'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

He also allegedly tampered with a domestic gas fitting. The Sun (2016)We have gas heating but who can afford to use it? The Sun (2016)They carry oxygen and a gas and air mix for pain relief. Times, Sunday Times (2016) Natural gas burns more cleanly than other fossil fuels. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The float is part of his plan to diversify the economy away from a reliance on oil and gas. Times, Sunday Times (2016)They will also be greener, being powered by liquefied natural gas and fuel cells. Times, Sunday Times (2016)He did stand a long way off the odd ditch but once there was a little less gas in the tank he was really good. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The dumping of other regulations will make it easier for frackers to find more natural gas, so increasing its supply and lowering its price. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Plant officials blamed dust in the gas. Hyland, Paul Indian Balm - Travels in the Southern Subcontinent (1994)This burns the waste to ash and releases highly flammable carbon monoxide and hydrogen gases. Times, Sunday Times (2013)It is the second gas find in the region in the past year. The Sun (2012)The solar wind slows as it crashes into the thin gas that fills the space between stars. Times, Sunday Times (2007)These lakes were full of poisonous gases from the volcano. Times, Sunday Times (2009)They need to breathe toxic gas the way humans need oxygen. Times, Sunday Times (2008)And they have fake wood fires fuelled with gas. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Could the exhaust gases be seeping into the car? Times, Sunday Times (2012)These tougher sanctions would cover oil and gas investment and the financial sector. Times, Sunday Times (2007)They are fuelled by natural gas pumped through the steel and copper stems. Times, Sunday Times (2012)My problem is the empty gas tank. Christianity Today (2000)These memory cells are kept at very low temperatures using a liquid gas. Samways, B. & Byrne-Jones, T. Computers Basic Facts (1983)The gas was lighted and the electric lights. E. Nesbit The Treasure Seekers (1899)The allowance makes it harder to persuade such villages to convert from coal to gas central heating. Times, Sunday Times (2012)She was given gas and air during an ankle massage then released. The Sun (2013)The gas is then piped back to the surface. Times, Sunday Times (2012)Gas and dust thrown off by the spinning sun formed the planets. The Sun (2009)The data confirmed a downward trend, especially for domestic gas consumption. Times, Sunday Times (2014)The company also manufactures the Ideal range of domestic gas boilers. Times, Sunday Times (2007)A source close to the investigation said the test would detect traces of anaesthetic gas if there were any. Times, Sunday Times (2015)

Word Lists

Chemistry terms, Industrial oils

Trends of 'gas'

Very Common. gas is one of the 4000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'gas'

British English: gas /ɡæs/ NOUN

A gas is any substance that is neither liquid nor solid.

Hydrogen is a gas, not a metal.

American English: gas
Arabic: غَاز
Brazilian Portuguese: gás
Chinese: 煤气
Croatian: plin
Czech: plyn
Danish: gas
Dutch: gas
European Spanish: gas
Finnish: kaasu
French: gaz
German: Gas
Greek: αέριο
Italian: gas
Japanese: ガス
Korean: 가스
Norwegian: gass
Polish: gaz
European Portuguese: gás
Romanian: gaz
Russian: газ
Spanish: gas
Swedish: gas
Thai: แก๊ซ
Turkish: gaz
Ukrainian: газ
Vietnamese: khí ga

British English: gas VERB

To gas a person or animal means to kill them by making them breathe poisonous gas.

Her husband ran a pipe from her car exhaust to the bedroom in an attempt to gas her.

American English: gas
Brazilian Portuguese: asfixiar com gás
Chinese: 用毒气杀死
European Spanish: gasear
French: asphyxier
German: vergasen
Italian: asfissiare con il gas
Japanese: 毒ガスで殺す
Korean: 독가스로 죽이다
European Portuguese: asfixiar com gás
Spanish: gasear

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Nearby words of 'gas'

Related Terms of 'gas'

Source

Definition of gas from the Collins English Dictionary

Square brackets [ ]

Square brackets are used, usually in books and articles, when supplying words that make a quotation clearer or that comment on it, although they were not originally said or written. Mr Runcie conclu...