Meaning & use
gaskets
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“gaskets” is a form of “gasket”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
a flat piece of soft material placed between two metal surfaces to stop liquid or gas from escaping
Grammar: Countable; the singular is 'gasket'. Often used with 'a' or 'the'.
Patterns
- a gasket between something and something
- replace a gasket
- blow a gasket
The mechanic replaced the gaskets in the engine to stop the oil leak.
You need a new gasket between the cylinder head and the engine block.
These gaskets are made of rubber and can withstand high temperatures.
nounpluralinformalfigurative
used in the informal phrase 'blow a gasket', meaning to become very angry suddenly
Grammar: Only used in the plural in this idiom: blow a gasket.
Patterns
- blow a gasket
Dad blew a gasket when he saw the broken window.
She'll blow a gasket if she finds out we lost the tickets.
Word forms
| singular | gasket |
|---|
Common combinations
- replace a gasket
- It's not expensive to replace a gasket, but it takes time.
- blow a gasket
- He blew a gasket when the car wouldn't start.
- head gasket
- A broken head gasket can cause serious engine damage.
- rubber gasket
- The rubber gasket had dried out and started to leak.
- gasket set
- The gasket set includes all the seals you need for the repair.
Synonyms and how they differ
- seal
- A seal is a more general word for something that stops leaks; a gasket is a specific flat piece used between metal parts.
Word family
- gasket noun
- the singular form of the same word
Commonly confused: gaskets or casket?
gaskets vs casket
A casket is a small box for valuables or a coffin; a gasket is a mechanical seal. They sound similar but are completely different.
Practice
The engine was leaking oil, so the mechanic replaced the ___.
Choose one answer.
The sentence needs a plural noun to match the general repair; 'gaskets' is correct. 'Gasket' is singular and would need 'a' or 'the'. The possessive forms don't fit because nothing belongs to the gaskets here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gaskets”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.