- gas
- noun (plural gases or chiefly US gasses)1》 an air-like fluid substance which expands freely to fill any space available, irrespective of its quantity.↘Physics a substance of this type that cannot be liquefied by pressure alone. Compare with vapour.↘a flammable gas used as a fuel.↘Mining an explosive mixture of firedamp (methane) with air.2》 a gaseous anaesthetic such as nitrous oxide, used in dentistry.3》 N. Amer. flatulence.4》 N. Amer. informal gasoline; petrol.5》 (a gas) informal an entertaining or amusing person or thing.verb (gases, gassing, gassed)1》 kill or harm by exposure to gas.↘(of a storage battery or dry cell) give off gas.2》 informal talk idly; chatter.3》 N. Amer. informal fill the tank of (a motor vehicle) with petrol.Derivativesgasification noungasify verb (gasifies, gasifying, gasified).gasser nounOriginC17: invented by the Belgian chemist J. B. van Helmont to denote an occult principle which he believed to exist in all matter; suggested by Gk khaos 'chaos'.
English new terms dictionary. 2014.