Definition

1. Noun:

   • A state of matter: A substance that has no fixed shape or volume, expands to fill its container, and has low density and viscosity compared to solids and liquids.
   • A fossil fuel: A gaseous fossil fuel, primarily methane, used for heating, cooking, and generating electricity.
   • Gasoline: A volatile, flammable liquid mixture of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum, used as fuel for internal combustion engines (primarily in North American informal usage).
   • Intestinal gas: A state of having excessive air or gas in the stomach or intestines.
   • Toxic vapor: A poisonous or asphyxiating substance used in chemical warfare.
   • Empty talk: Boastful, idle, or insincere talk (informal usage).

2. Verb:

   • To poison with gas: To attack, kill, or disable using poisonous gas.
   • To talk idly: To talk in a boastful, lengthy, or insincere manner (informal usage).

Examples

• Noun:

  • Oxygen is a gas essential for life.
  • We use natural gas to heat our home.
  • I need to stop and get gas for the car.
  • Eating beans can sometimes cause gas.
  • The treaty banned the use of chemical gases in war.
  • His promises were just a lot of hot gas.

• Verb:

  • During the war, enemy soldiers were gassed in the trenches.
  • He spent the afternoon gassing with his friends about old times.

Advanced Usage

• "Step on the gas": To press the accelerator pedal in a vehicle to go faster; figuratively, to hurry up or increase the rate of activity.

  • We're running late, so step on the gas!
  • We need to step on the gas if we want to finish the project on time.

• "Run out of gas": To have no fuel left in a vehicle; figuratively, to lose energy or momentum.

  • The car ran out of gas on the highway.
  • The team started strong but ran out of gas in the second half.

Variants and Related Words

• Gaseous (adj): Having the characteristics of a gas; in the form of a gas.

  • Water becomes gaseous steam when boiled.

• Gasify (verb): To convert into a gas.

  • The process is designed to gasify coal.

• Gaslight (verb): To manipulate someone by psychological means into questioning their own sanity. (Note: This is a distinct compound word).

  • He tried to gaslight her into believing she was mistaken.

Synonyms

• Noun: Vapor, fumes, petrol (UK), gasoline (US), chatter, blather.
• Verb: Poison, asphyxiate, chatter, babble.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Gas up: To fill a vehicle's fuel tank with gasoline.
  • Let's gas up the car before we leave town.

Related Idioms

• A gas: Something that is very amusing or entertaining (slang).

  • That comedian is a real gas.

• All gas and no brakes: Full of energy and enthusiasm without restraint (informal).

  • He approached the new project all gas and no brakes.

Noun

1. a fossil fuel in the gaseous state; used for cooking and heating homes
2. a pedal that controls the throttle valve
   • he stepped on the gas
3. a state of excessive gas in the alimentary canal
4. a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines
5. a fluid in the gaseous state having neither independent shape nor volume and being able to expand indefinitely
6. the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity; relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container

Verb

1. show off
2. attack with gas; subject to gas fumes
   • The despot gassed the rebellious tribes