Meaning & use
gases
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“gases” is a form of “gas”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluralphysicschemistry
Substances like air or oxygen that are neither solid nor liquid and spread out to fill any space.
Grammar: Plural of gas: the gases in the atmosphere.
Patterns
- gases in something
- a mixture of gases
Oxygen and nitrogen are the main gases in the air we breathe.
Carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse gases.
The balloon was filled with light gases that made it rise.
nounplural
Fuels in gas form, used for cooking, heating or powering machines.
Grammar: Used when talking about different kinds of fuel gas.
Patterns
- natural gases
- fuel gases
Natural gases are piped to homes for heating.
Some industrial gases are stored in tall steel cylinders.
The company supplies gases used for welding.
Word forms
| singular | gas |
|---|
Common combinations
- greenhouse gases
- Cars produce greenhouse gases that warm the planet.
- toxic gases
- The fire released toxic gases.
- noble gases
- Helium and neon are noble gases.
- harmful gases
- Factories must limit harmful gases.
- release gases
- Volcanoes release gases into the air.
Synonyms and how they differ
- vapors
- Vapors are gases formed from a liquid or solid at a normal temperature, while gases is the broader word.
- fumes
- Fumes are usually unpleasant or harmful gases or smoke, but gases may be harmless.
- emissions
- Emissions means gases or particles let out into the air by a source such as a car or factory.
Word family
Commonly confused: gases or gasses?
gases vs gasses
Gasses is a less common spelling, used mainly as a verb (he gasses the room) or as a variant plural, but gases is the standard plural noun.
Practice
Scientists measure the amount of greenhouse ____ in the atmosphere.
Choose one answer.
Gases is the standard plural of the noun gas. Gasses is a less common variant, and the others are incorrect forms.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gases”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.