tear gas
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A chemical agent, typically in aerosol or gas form, that causes severe eye, respiratory, and skin irritation, resulting in tearing, pain, and temporary blindness. It is used primarily for riot control and law enforcement to disperse crowds.
Usage
The term "tear gas" is used as a non-count noun to refer to the chemical agent itself. It is often discussed in contexts of law enforcement, protests, and military training.
Examples
- The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters.
- Exposure to tear gas causes immediate burning of the eyes and difficulty breathing.
- International law regulates the use of tear gas in warfare.
Advanced Usage
- "To be gassed" / "To get gassed": Informal phrases meaning to be exposed to tear gas.
- Several journalists were gassed during the clash.
- "Tear gas canister" / "Tear gas grenade": The specific devices used to deploy the agent.
- A spent tear gas canister lay on the street.
Variants and Related Words
- Chemical name: CS gas (common type), CN gas (older type), Pepper spray (related agent, but a liquid).
- Lachrymator (noun): The technical term for a substance that irritates the eyes to cause tears.
- Riot control agent (noun phrase): A broader category that includes tear gas.
Synonyms
- Lachrymatory agent (formal/technical)
- Riot control gas
Related Phrases
- Deploy tear gas: The formal action of using it.
- Authorities may deploy tear gas if the crowd becomes violent.
- Disperse tear gas: To spread or release the gas.
- The wind dispersed the tear gas over a wider area.
Noun
- a gas that makes the eyes fill with tears but does not damage them; used in dispersing crowds