Gas

Gas, gas, n. a vaporous substance not condensed into a liquid at ordinary terrestrial temperatures and pressures—esp. that obtained from coal, used in lighting houses: (coll.) frothy talk:—pl. Gas′es.—v.t. to supply with gas: (U.S.) to impose on by talking gas.—v.i. to vapour, talk boastfully.—ns. Gasalier′, Gaselier′, a hanging frame with branches for gas-jets, formed on false analogy from chandelier; Gas′-bag, a bag for holding gas: a boastful, talkative person; Gas′-brack′et, a pipe, mostly curved, projecting from the wall of a room, used for illuminating purposes; Gas′-burn′er, a piece of metal fitted to the end of a gas-pipe, with one or more small holes so arranged as to spread out the flame; Gas′-coal, any coal suitable for making illuminating gas; Gas′-condens′er, an apparatus for freeing coal-gas from tar; Gasē′ity, Gā′seousness.—adj. Gaseous (gā′se-us).—ns. Gas′-en′gine, an engine in which motion is communicated to the piston by the alternate admission and condensation of gas in a closed cylinder; Gas′-fit′ter, one who fits up the pipes and brackets for gas-lighting; Gas′-fix′ture, a bracket or chandelier for gas; Gas′-fur′nace, a furnace of which the fuel is gas; Gas′holder, a large vessel for storing gas; Gasificā′tion, the process of converting into gas.—v.t. Gas′ify, to convert into gas.—ns. Gas′-jet, a gas-burner; Gas′-lamp, a lamp lighted by gas; Gas′-main, one of the principal underground pipes conveying gas from the works to the places where it is consumed; Gas′-man, a man employed in the manufacture of gas: the man who controls the lights of the stage; Gas′-mē′ter, an instrument for measuring the quantity of gas consumed at a particular place in a given time; Gas′ogene (same as Gazogene); Gas′olene, rectified petroleum; Gasom′eter, an instrument for measuring gas: a place for holding gas.—adjs. Gasomet′ric, -al.—ns. Gas′-pipe, a pipe for conveying gas; Gas′sing, idle talking; Gas′-stove, an apparatus in which coal-gas is used for heating and cooking purposes.—adj. Gas′sy, full of gas, gaseous: (slang) given to vain and boastful talk.—ns. Gas′-tank, a reservoir for coal-gas; Gas′-tar, coal-tar.—adj. Gas′-tight, sufficiently close to prevent the escape of gas.—ns. Gas′-wa′ter, water through which coal-gas has been passed; Gas′-works, an establishment where illuminating gas is manufactured. [A word invented by the Dutch chemist J. B. Van Helmont (1577-1644)—the form suggested by Gr. chaos.]