Definition

1. Verb:
   • To remove gas from: The primary meaning of "degas" is to eliminate or extract gas from a substance, container, or system. This is a technical process often used in science, engineering, and manufacturing.

Usage

• Verb (transitive): The word is almost exclusively used as a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the thing from which gas is removed).
• Context: It is most commonly used in technical, scientific, or industrial contexts, such as chemistry, metallurgy, vacuum technology, and food processing.

Examples

• Verb:
  • Before sealing the vacuum tube, you must degas the metal components to prevent internal pressure.
  • The winemaker will degas the wine to remove excess carbon dioxide after fermentation.
  • A crucial step in preparing the sample for electron microscopy is to degas it thoroughly.

Advanced Usage

• "Degassing" (Gerund/Noun): The process or act of removing gas.
  • The degassing of the magma chamber led to a violent volcanic eruption.
• "Degassed" (Adjective/Past Participle): Describing a substance from which gas has been removed.
  • Use only degassed water for this chemical experiment to avoid bubbles.

Variants and Related Words

• Degasser (Noun): A device or substance used to remove gas.
  • The laboratory purchased a new ultrasonic degasser for their samples.
• Outgas (Verb): A related term meaning to release gas, especially from a material. "Degas" is the active process of removal, while "outgas" often describes a passive release.
  • The new polymer may outgas volatile compounds over time.

Synonyms

• De-aerate: To remove air or gas.
• Purge: To rid of an unwanted substance, such as gas.
• Evacuate: To remove air or gas to create a vacuum.

Notes on Different Meanings

• Proper Noun (Degas): The word "Degas" (capitalized) is the surname of the famous French Impressionist painter Edgar Degas. This is a completely separate, homographic proper noun and is not the target verb "degas."
  • Example: The museum is exhibiting several works by Degas.
• The verb "degas" is not used to form common idioms or phrasal verbs. Its usage is literal and technical.

Noun

1. French impressionist painter (1834-1917)

Verb

1. remove gas from