1 gas
Pronounced:
/ˈgæs/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural gas·es also gas·sesMeaning:
1 a : a substance (such as oxygen or hydrogen) that is like air and has no fixed shape [count] ▪ Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. ▪ a mixture of gases [noncount] ▪ clouds of gas —see also laughing gas, mustard gas, natural gas, nerve gas, tear gas b [noncount] : a gas or mixture of gases that is burned as a fuel ▪ We heat our house with gas. ▪ Turn up the gas. ▪ Do you have a gas stove or an electric one?
2 [noncount] US : gas in your stomach and intestines that causes pain or discomfort ▪ Certain foods give me gas. [=(Brit) wind] ▪ stomach gas ▪ intestinal gas ◊To pass gas is to release intestinal gas from your anus. ▪ I accidentally passed gas [=(less politely) farted] during the meeting. It was so embarrassing!
3 US a [noncount] : gasoline ▪ We need to stop for gas. [=(Brit) petrol] ▪ high gas prices ▪ The car gets good gas mileage. ▪ The car almost ran out of gas. —sometimes used figuratively ▪ The pitcher ran out of gas [=became tired] in the seventh inning. b the gas informal : the accelerator pedal of a vehicle ▪ He was driving with one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake. ◊If you step on the gas or hit the gas, you suddenly press down on the accelerator to drive at a higher speed.
4 [singular] US old-fashioned slang : a very enjoyable or funny person, event, etc. ▪ The party was a gas. ▪ Your uncle cracks me up. What a gas!
2 [noncount] US : gas in your stomach and intestines that causes pain or discomfort ▪ Certain foods give me gas. [=(Brit) wind] ▪ stomach gas ▪ intestinal gas ◊To pass gas is to release intestinal gas from your anus. ▪ I accidentally passed gas [=(less politely) farted] during the meeting. It was so embarrassing!
3 US a [noncount] : gasoline ▪ We need to stop for gas. [=(Brit) petrol] ▪ high gas prices ▪ The car gets good gas mileage. ▪ The car almost ran out of gas. —sometimes used figuratively ▪ The pitcher ran out of gas [=became tired] in the seventh inning. b the gas informal : the accelerator pedal of a vehicle ▪ He was driving with one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake. ◊If you step on the gas or hit the gas, you suddenly press down on the accelerator to drive at a higher speed.
4 [singular] US old-fashioned slang : a very enjoyable or funny person, event, etc. ▪ The party was a gas. ▪ Your uncle cracks me up. What a gas!