Gas Word Meaning

mid 17th century: invented by J. B. van Helmont (1577–1644), Belgian chemist, to denote an occult principle which he believed to exist in all matter; suggested by Greek khaos ‘chaos’, with Dutch g representing Greek kh

a substance or matter in a state in which it will expand freely to fill the whole of a container, having no fixed shape (unlike a solid) and no fixed volume (unlike a liquid)

substance in state in which it will expand freely

• hot balls of gas that become stars
• poisonous gases

gasoline

• we stopped for gas

an entertaining or amusing person or situation

entertaining or amusing person or situation

• the party would be a gas

kill or harm by exposure to gas

kill or harm by exposure to gas

• my son was gassed at Verdun

talk excessively about trivial matters

talk excessively

• I thought you'd never stop gassing

fill the tank of (a motor vehicle) with petrol

fill tank of vehicle with petrol

• after gassing up the car, he went into the restaurant

very amusing or entertaining

very amusing

• Ruthie, that's gas—you're a gem