What does gas mean?
Gas is a broad English word whose meaning depends heavily on context. Its most common meanings are a gaseous substance, especially fuel gas, and, in North American English, gasoline. It can also refer to gas produced in the digestive system, to nitrous oxide used as an anesthetic, and to boastful or argumentative talk. As a verb, gas can mean exposing someone or something to poisonous gas, supplying or emitting gas, or talking boastfully. The word is useful because it connects ordinary language with the history of chemistry and medicine: it was originally an alchemical term derived from Greek kháos, meaning chaos or a void. In everyday speech, its meanings range from practical and technical to informal and humorous.
A gaseous substance, especially fuel used for heating or energy production. In North American English it also means gasoline, and it can refer to intestinal gas, nitrous oxide, or boastful talk.
"The old boiler was converted to run on natural gas."
To expose a person or place to poisonous gas; to supply with gas or fuel; to emit gas; or, informally, to make boastful or argumentative talk.
"The report said that workers had been exposed to gas."
The standard plural of the noun is gases, with the final syllable pronounced /ɪz/ when the plural follows a sibilant sound.
"The scientists studied several gases released during the reaction."
The word “gas” comes from the Greek word for chaos: early alchemists used it for the supposedly airborne form in which matter could dissolve.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gas come from?
The English word gas appeared in the early seventeenth century in alchemical writings, developed from New Latin gas. That form was based on Greek kháos, meaning “chaos” or “void,” reflecting the early idea that gases were an elusive, airborne form of matter. Later chemical usage established the modern sense for gaseous substances, and related forms such as gaseous and gasometer developed from the same word family.
Related word forms
How gas is actually used
In British English, gas normally means fuel gas, while petrol means gasoline; in North American English, gas commonly means gasoline, and gas station is the usual term for a petrol station. Gas meaning intestinal gas is common in informal and medical contexts. Gas as a verb meaning to expose someone to poisonous gas is serious and formal, whereas gas meaning to talk boastfully is informal and chiefly North American.
Easily confused with gas
Gas refers to a gaseous substance or, in North American English, gasoline; a gauge is an instrument for measuring something such as pressure, speed, or temperature.