1. A fluid in the gaseous state having neither independent shape nor volume and being able to expand indefinitely
   "The balloon was filled with helium gas"
    
2. The state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity; relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container
   "The helium gas filled the balloon evenly";
   - gaseous state
    
3. [N. Amer] A volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines
   "The car was running low on gas";
   - gasoline [N. Amer], gasolene [N. Amer], petrol [Brit], juice [informal]
    
4. A fossil fuel in the gaseous state; used for cooking and heating homes
   "Many households rely on natural gas for their heating needs";
   - natural gas
    
5. [N. Amer] A pedal that regulates engine speed of a vehicle
   "he stepped on the gas";
   - accelerator, accelerator pedal, gas pedal [N. Amer], throttle
    
6. (blockchains) the cost to conduct a transaction
   "the exact price of the gas is determined by supply and demand between the network's miner"
    
7. A state of excessive gas in the alimentary canal
   "His gas caused discomfort during the long meeting";
   - flatulence, flatulency

1. Attack with gas; subject to gas fumes
   "The despot gassed the rebellious tribes"
    
2. [informal] Talk socially without exchanging too much information
   "the men were sitting in the cafe and gassing";
   - chew the fat [informal], shoot the breeze [N. Amer, informal], chat, confabulate, confab [informal], chitchat [informal], chit-chat [informal], chatter, chaffer, natter [informal], gossip, jaw [informal], claver [UK, dialect], visit [N. Amer, informal], chew the rag [informal], gab [informal], chinwag [Brit, informal]
    
3. [informal] Show off, esp. with exaggeration
   "He was always gassing about his athletic achievements";
   - boast, swash [archaic], shoot a line [informal], brag, blow [informal], bluster, vaunt, gasconade [archaic], skite [Austral, NZ, informal]

1. A rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic element; brittle at low temperatures but liquid above room temperature; occurs in trace amounts in bauxite and zinc ores
   - gallium, atomic number 31

Derived forms: gasses, gassing, gassed, gases

Type of: amplify, assail, attack, converse, discourse, exaggerate, fluid, foot lever, foot pedal, fossil fuel, fuel, hydrocarbon, hyperbolise [Brit], hyperbolize, magnify, metal, metallic element, overdraw, overstate, pedal, physical condition, physiological condition, physiological state, state, state of matter, treadle

Part of: aeroplane [Brit], airplane [N. Amer], auto [informal], autocar [archaic], automobile [N. Amer], bauxite, car, gasohol, motor [Brit, informal], motorcar, plane, wheel [informal], whip [US, informal]

Encyclopedia: Gas, Oil and Water