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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

gas       (gās)  Pronunciation Key  n.   pl. gas·es or gas·ses 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. A substance in the gaseous state. Flatulence. Flatus. A gaseous fuel, such as natural gas. Gasoline. The speed control of a gasoline engine. Used with the: Step on the gas. A gaseous asphyxiant, irritant, or poison. A gaseous anesthetic, such as nitrous oxide. Flatulence. Flatus. Slang Idle or boastful talk. Slang Someone or something exceptionally exciting or entertaining: The party was a gas. v.   gassed, gas·sing, gas·es or gas·ses v.   tr. To treat chemically with gas. To overcome, disable, or kill with poisonous fumes. v.   intr. To give off gas. Slang To talk excessively. Phrasal Verb(s): gas up To supply a vehicle with gas or gasoline: gas up a car; gassed up before the trip. [Dutch, an occult physical principle supposed to be present in all bodies, alteration of Greek khaos, chaos, empty space, coined by Jan Baptista van Helmont (1577-1644), Flemish chemist.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
gas 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

gas
noun
1.	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
2.	a fluid in the gaseous state having neither independent shape nor volume and being able to expand indefinitely
3.	a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines [syn: gasoline]
4.	a state of excessive gas in the alimentary canal [syn: flatulence]
5.	a pedal that controls the throttle valve; "he stepped on the gas" [syn: accelerator]
6.	a fossil fuel in the gaseous state; used for cooking and heating homes [syn: natural gas]
verb
1.	attack with gas; subject to gas fumes; "The despot gassed the rebellious tribes"
2.	show off

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

gas

In addition to the idiom beginning with gas, also see cook with gas; run out of steam (gas).

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

gas       (gās)  Pronunciation Key  One of four main states of matter, composed of molecules in constant random motion. Unlike a solid, a gas has no fixed shape and will take on the shape of the space available. Unlike a liquid, the intermolecular forces are very small; it has no fixed volume and will expand to fill the space available. gaseous adjective (gās'ē-əs, gāsh'əs)

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
gas

In physics, one of the phases of matter. The atoms or molecules in gases are more widely spaced than in solids or liquids and suffer only occasional collisions with one another.

[Chapter:] Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

gas
GNU assembler

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Gas City, IN (city, FIPS 27054) Location: 40.48915 N, 85.60775 W
Population (1990): 6296 (2535 housing units)
Area: 6.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 46933

Gas Hills, WY Zip code(s): 82501

Gas, KS (city, FIPS 25975) Location: 37.92271 N, 95.34470 W
Population (1990): 505 (227 housing units)
Area: 1.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gas

Air" gas`\ See under Gas.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gas

Gas\ (g[a^]s), n.; pl. Gases (-[e^]z). [Invented by the chemist Van Helmont of Brussels, who died in 1644.]

1. An a["e]riform fluid; -- a term used at first by chemists as synonymous with air, but since restricted to fluids supposed to be permanently elastic, as oxygen, hydrogen, etc., in distinction from vapors, as steam, which become liquid on a reduction of temperature. In present usage, since all of the supposed permanent gases have been liquified by cold and pressure, the term has resumed nearly its original signification, and is applied to any substance in the elastic or a["e]riform state.

2. (Popular Usage) (a) A complex mixture of gases, of which the most important constituents are marsh gas, olefiant gas, and hydrogen, artificially produced by the destructive distillation of gas coal, or sometimes of peat, wood, oil, resin, etc. It gives a brilliant light when burned, and is the common gas used for illuminating purposes. (b) Laughing gas. (c) Any irrespirable a["e]riform fluid.

Note: Gas is often used adjectively or in combination; as, gas fitter or gasfitter; gas meter or gas-meter, etc.

Air gas (Chem.), a kind of gas made by forcing air through some volatile hydrocarbon, as the lighter petroleums. The air is so saturated with combustible vapor as to be a convenient illuminating and heating agent.

Gas battery (Elec.), a form of voltaic battery, in which gases, especially hydrogen and oxygen, are the active agents.

Gas carbon, Gas coke, etc. See under Carbon, Coke, etc.

Gas coal, a bituminous or hydrogenous coal yielding a high percentage of volatile matters, and therefore available for the manufacture of illuminating gas. --R. W. Raymond.

Gas engine, an engine in which the motion of the piston is produced by the combustion or sudden production or expansion of gas; -- especially, an engine in which an explosive mixture of gas and air is forced into the working cylinder and ignited there by a gas flame or an electric spark.

Gas fitter, one who lays pipes and puts up fixtures for gas.

Gas fitting. (a) The occupation of a gas fitter. (b) pl. The appliances needed for the introduction of gas into a building, as meters, pipes, burners, etc.

Gas fixture, a device for conveying illuminating or combustible gas from the pipe to the gas-burner, consisting of an appendage of cast, wrought, or drawn metal, with tubes upon which the burners, keys, etc., are adjusted.

Gas generator, an apparatus in which gas is evolved; as: (a) a retort in which volatile hydrocarbons are evolved by heat; (b) a machine in which air is saturated with the vapor of liquid hydrocarbon; a carburetor; (c) a machine for the production of carbonic acid gas, for a["e]rating water, bread, etc. --Knight.

Gas jet, a flame of illuminating gas.

Gas machine, an apparatus for carbureting air for use as illuminating gas.

Gas meter, an instrument for recording the quantity of gas consumed in a given time, at a particular place.

Gas retort, a retort which contains the coal and other materials, and in which the gas is generated, in the manufacture of gas.

Gas stove, a stove for cooking or other purposes, heated by gas.

Gas tar, coal tar.

Gas trap, a drain trap; a sewer trap. See 4th Trap, 5.

Gas washer (Gas Works), an apparatus within which gas from the condenser is brought in contact with a falling stream of water, to precipitate the tar remaining in it. --Knight.

Gas water, water through which gas has been passed for purification; -- called also gas liquor and ammoniacal water, and used for the manufacture of sal ammoniac, carbonate of ammonia, and Prussian blue. --Tomlinson.

Gas well, a deep boring, from which natural gas is discharged. --Raymond.

Gas works, a manufactory of gas, with all the machinery and appurtenances; a place where gas is generated for lighting cities.

Laughing gas. See under Laughing.

Marsh gas (Chem.), a light, combustible, gaseous hydrocarbon, CH4, produced artificially by the dry distillation of many organic substances, and occurring as a natural product of decomposition in stagnant pools, whence its name. It is an abundant ingredient of ordinary illuminating gas, and is the first member of the paraffin series. Called also methane, and in coal mines, fire damp.

Natural gas, gas obtained from wells, etc., in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and elsewhere, and largely used for fuel and illuminating purposes. It is chiefly derived from the Coal Measures.

Olefiant gas (Chem.). See Ethylene.

Water gas (Chem.), a kind of gas made by forcing steam over glowing coals, whereby there results a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This gives a gas of intense heating power, but destitute of light-giving properties, and which is charged by passing through some volatile hydrocarbon, as gasoline.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gas

Gas"e*ous\ (? or ?; 277), a. [From Gas. Cf. F. gazeux.]

1. In the form, or of the nature, of gas, or of an a["e]riform fluid.

2. Lacking substance or solidity; tenuous. "Unconnected, gaseous information." --Sir J. Stephen.

American Heritage Abbreviations Dictionary 3rd Edition - Cite This Source - Share This

GAS group A streptococci

Acronym Finder - Cite This Source - Share This

GAS

GAS: in Acronym Finder