Gas

Definition of Gas

Pronunciation: găs

An aëriform 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 aëriform state.

(Popular Usage) 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.

same as gasoline; - a shortened form. Also, the accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle; used in the term " step on the gas".

the accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle; used in the term " step on the gas".

Same as natural gas.

an exceptionally enjoyable event; a good time; as, The concert was a gas.

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
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.

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. - R. W. Raymond.

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

Gas fitting
a -	The occupation of a gas fitter.
b -	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
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 aërating water, bread, etc.

Gas jet
a flame of illuminating gas. - Knight.

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.

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. - Knight.

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

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

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.<- = synthesis gas ->

v. t.

(Textiles) To singe, as in a gas flame, so as to remove loose fibers; as, to gas thread.

[imp. & p. p. Gassed (găst); p. pr. & vb. n. Gassing.]

To impregnate with gas; as, to gas lime with chlorine in the manufacture of bleaching powder.

to expose to a poisonous or noxious gas

Related Words

acetylene, advance against, advance upon, aerodynamics, air, alcohol, ammonia, argon, asphyxiating gas, atmosphere, avgas, babble, babblement, baloney, bavardage, bear down upon, belch, benzine, best seller, bibble-babble, big hit, big talk, bilge, blab, blabber, blah, blah-blah, blather, blether, blethers, bop, bosh, brilliant success, briquette, bull, bullshit, bunk, bunker, bunkum, burnable, burp, butane, cackle, caquet, caqueterie, carbon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, cater, charcoal, chat, chatter, chitter-chatter, chlorine, clack, clatter, coal, coal gas, coal oil, coke, combustible, counterattack, crap, crude, crude oil, dither, dope, drive, drivel, drool, electricity, eructation, ethane, ethanol, ether, ethyl, ethyl gas, ethylene, fad, fancy talk, fart, feed, fill up, fine talk, fireball, firing, fish story, flammable, flammable material, flank, flapdoodle, flatulence, flatulency, flatuosity, flatus, fluid, fluorine, forage, formaldehyde, fossil oil, fuel, fuel additive, fuel dope, gab, gabble, gas carbon, gas up, gasoline, gasser, gibber, gibble-gabble, go on, gossip, great success, guff, gup, gush, halogen gas, haver, helium, heptane, hexane, hiccup, high-octane gas, high-test, highfalutin, highfaluting, hit, hogwash, hokum, hooey, hot air, hydrogen, idle talk, illuminant, illuminating gas, inert gas, infiltrate, inflammable, inflammable material, isooctane, jabber, jaw, jazz, jet fuel, kerosene, killing, krypton, launch an attack, lead-free gas, lewisite, light source, low-lead gas, luminant, malarkey, march against, march upon, marsh gas, mere talk, meteoric success, methane, methanol, momentary success, moonshine, motor oil, mount an attack, mustard gas, natter, natural gas, neon, nitrogen, nonsense talk, octane, oil, open an offensive, oxygen, ozone, palaver, paraffin, patter, peat, pentane, petrol, petroleum, piffle, pneumatics, poison gas, poppycock, pour forth, prate, prating, prattle, premium gas, prittle-prattle, propane, propellant, provender, provision, purvey, push, radon, ramble on, rattle, rattle on, reel off, regular, resounding triumph, riot, roaring success, rock oil, rocket fuel, rot, run on, scat, sell, sensation, sewer gas, shit, smash, smash hit, spout, spout off, strike, talk away, talk nonsense, talk on, talkee-talkee, tall story, tall talk, thrust, tittle-tattle, tommyrot, top off, tripe, triumph, turf, twaddle, twattle, vapor, victual, waffle, wind, wow, xenon, yak, yakkety-yak

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Garreting
Garrison
Garron
Garrot
Garrote
garroter
Garrulinae
garrulity
Garrulous
Garrulus
Garrupa
Garter
Garter fish
Garter king-at-arms
Garter snake
Garter stitch
Garth
Garuda
Garum
Garvie
-Gas-
Gas battery
Gas carbon
Gas coal
Gas coke
Gas engine
Gas fitter
Gas fitting
Gas fixture
Gas generator
Gas jet
gas liquor
Gas machine
Gas meter
Gas retort
Gas stove
Gas tar
Gas trap
Gas washer
Gas water
Gas well

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