gas

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a pedal that controls the throttle valve

   They stepped on the gas.

2. 2
   verb

   attack with gas

   subject to gas fumes

3. 3
   noun

   Matter in an intermediate state between liquid and plasma that can be contained only if it is fully surrounded by a solid (or in a bubble of liquid, or held together by gravitational pull); it can condense into a liquid, or can (rarely) become a solid directly by deposition.

   A lot of gas had escaped from the cylinder.

4. 4
   noun

   A chemical element or compound in such a state.

   The atmosphere is made up of a number of different gases.

5. 5
   noun

   A hob on a gas cooker.

   She turned the gas on, put the potatoes on, then lit the oven.

6. 6
   noun

   Methane or other waste gases trapped in one's belly as a result of the digestive process; flatus.

   My tummy hurts so bad – I have gas.

7. 7
   noun

   A humorous or entertaining event, person, or thing.

   Two more girls came in, one in bright pink stretch pants and the other in purple. “Man this place is a gas,” said pink.

8. 8
   noun

   Frothy or boastful talk; chatter.

   Bang, little boy, stop with the gas / Little T, man he chats up his ass

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₂-der. Ancient Greek χαῦνος (khaûnos) Ancient Greek χάος (kháos)der. Dutch gasbor. English gas Borrowed from Dutch gas, coined by chemist Jan Baptist van Helmont in Ortus Medicinae. Derived from Ancient Greek χάος (kháos, “chasm, void, empty space”); perhaps also inspired by geest (“breath, vapour, spirit”). Doublet of chaos. First attested in 1648.