gases

Noun

gas (countable and uncountable, plural gases or gasses)

1. (physical, uncountable) Matter in an intermediate state between liquid and plasma that can be contained only if it is fully surrounded by a solid (or in a bubble of liquid, or held together by gravitational pull); it can condense into a liquid, or can (rarely) become a solid directly by deposition.
   • A lot of gas had escaped from the cylinder.

   Synonyms:

   vapor, vapour

   1. (physical, uncountable) A flammable gaseous hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture used as a fuel, e.g. for cooking, heating, electricity generation or as a fuel in internal combustion engines in vehicles, especially natural gas.
      • Gas-fired power stations have largely replaced coal-burning ones.
   2. (physical, uncountable) Poison gas.
      • The artillery fired gas shells into the enemy trenches.
2. (countable, physical) A chemical element or compound in such a state.
   • The atmosphere is made up of a number of different gases.
3. (countable) A hob on a gas cooker.
   • She turned the gas on, put the potatoes on, then lit the oven.
4. (uncountable) Methane or other waste gases trapped in one's belly as a result of the digestive process; flatus.
   • My tummy hurts so bad – I have gas.

   Synonyms:

   wind

See all 27 meanings of gas