noun

gas

noun

A state of matter, like air, that has no fixed shape or volume and spreads to fill its container.

"Helium is a gas that is lighter than air."

"The lab heated the liquid until it turned to gas."

A fuel, especially natural gas used for heating and cooking, or (US, informal) petrol for a vehicle.

"We stopped to fill up on gas before the highway."

"Turn off the gas before you leave the kitchen."

Air trapped in the stomach or intestines; flatulence.

"Spicy food always gives him gas."

verb

To attack or kill using poisonous gas.

"The trenches were gassed during the war."

(informal, US) To fill a vehicle's tank with fuel.

"Can you gas up the car before the trip?"

How to Use Gas

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAir-like matter that spreads out to fill any space, or (informally) fuel for a car.

UK vs US

In American English "gas" commonly means petrol; British English keeps "petrol" and reserves "gas" mainly for the fuel used in cooking/heating.

Common pairings

run out of gas gas station natural gas step on the gas

Word Forms

gasser comparative, gasser comparative, gassed past tense, gassed past tense, gases plural, gasses plural, gases singular, gasses singular, gases singular, gasses singular, gassest superlative, gassest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Helium is a _____ that is lighter than air.

Etymology

Coined in the 1600s by the chemist Jan Baptist van Helmont, adapted from the Greek word "chaos."

Rhymes for gas

degas Vegas Vargas Chagas

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